Guava - Pest management

 Fruit fly infestation

Biology:

Egg: Under optimum conditions, a female can lay more than 3,000 eggs during her lifetime, but under field conditions from 1,200 to 1,500 eggs per female is considered to be the usual production. Development from egg to adult under summer conditions requires about 16 days.

Larva: The mature larva emerges from the fruit, drops to the ground, and forms a tan to dark brown puparium.

Pupa: Pupation occurs in the soil. About nine days are required for attainment of sexual maturity after the adult fly emerges.

Adult: Brown or dark brown with hyaline wings and yellow legs.

Damage symptoms:

Adults and maggots attack semi – ripe fruits.

Oviposition punctures on fruits.

Maggots destroy and convert pulp into a bad smelling.

Discoloured semi liquid mass.

Natural enemies of fruit fly: Parasitoids : Opius compensates, Spalangia philippinensis, and Diachasmimorpha krauss.