Species of Fruit Flies and Their Infestation Rate on Indian Jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.) in Chai Badan District, Lop Buri Province

Abstract

The 'Samros' cultivar of Indian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.) is a promising option for increasing farmers' income in Thailand. However, these jujube crops have been susceptible to damage from fruit fly infestations. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the diversity of fruit flies and the extent of infestation in jujube fruits within Chai Badan District, Lop Buri Province. Fruit fly samples were collected during the fruiting season from December 2021 to February 2022. This was achieved through two methods: 1) employing traps baited with lure substances, and 2) gathering jujube fruits displaying signs of fruit fly infestation for laboratory analysis. The study identified two species of fruit flies, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) and Bactrocera correcta (Bezzi), using traps with lure baits and jujube fruits showing signs of fruit fly infestation. The average capture rates were 1.66± 0.48 and 2.45±0.77 individuals/trap/week, respectively. Significantly, B. correcta was captured in greater numbers compared to B. dorsalis (p<0.05). Furthermore, upon examining jujube fruits in the laboratory, the infestation rates of B. dorsalis and B. correcta were recorded at 41.50±15.60 and 46.98± 17.80 individuals/kg, respectively. These rates did not exhibit significant differences (p≥0.05) between the two species but the infestation rate in December was significantly higher than in the other months (p < 0.05). The insights gained from this study regarding fruit fly species diversity and infestation rates will assist farmers in accurately identifying these pests. Consequently, this information can serve as a valuable guide for implementing preventive measures to mitigate future crop damage.