Comparative analysis of life tables of Bactrocera tau (Diptera: Tephritidae) collected from different geographical regions of North India

The tomato fruitfly, Bactrocera tau (Walker) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is one of the most important pests of the family Cucurbitaceae. Toinvestigate local adaptation, we measured the variations in life-histories and life-table parameters among populations from five different geographical regions of North India, Ludhiana (262 mt amsl), Solan (1,502 mt amsl), Hisar (215 mt amsl), Pantnagar (344 mt amsl) and Jaach (733 mt amsl). The principal components analysis showed the life-history and life-table parameters of B. tau differed among the five geographical populations. The highest fecundity of 233.20 eggs/female was recorded in the Jaach population and was statistically at par with Hisar (209.21 eggs/female) followed by Solan (202.60 eggs/female), Pantnagar (178.60 eggs/female) and Ludhiana population (105.88 eggs/female). The total developmental period among the five populations of B. tau was the longest for the Pantnagar population (16.20 days) followed by Solan (13.90 days), Hisar (12.60 days), Ludhiana (12.30 days) and Jaach (11.60 days). The true intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm) was 0.120, 0.138, 0.140, 0.116 and 0.153 for the respective geographical regions while the finite rate of increase (?) was 1.13, 1.15, 1.15, 1.12 and 1.16, thus indicating that the fruit fly from Jaach location is more reproductive than the other five geographical regions of North India. Since the study will be useful in knowing the multiplication rate of fruit fly in specific area, accordingly the management practices for this species can be formulated on the bases of these studies. The results thus indicated the geographical variations among different populations of B. tau

Comparative analysis of life tables of Bactrocera tau (Diptera: Tephritidae) collected from different geographical regions of North India

The tomato fruitfly, Bactrocera tau (Walker) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is one of the most important pests of the family Cucurbitaceae. Toinvestigate local adaptation, we measured the variations in life-histories and life-table parameters among populations from five different geographical regions of North India, Ludhiana (262 mt amsl), Solan (1,502 mt amsl), Hisar (215 mt amsl), Pantnagar (344 mt amsl) and Jaach (733 mt amsl). The principal components analysis showed the life-history and life-table parameters of B. tau differed among the five geographical populations. The highest fecundity of 233.20 eggs/female was recorded in the Jaach population and was statistically at par with Hisar (209.21 eggs/female) followed by Solan (202.60 eggs/female), Pantnagar (178.60 eggs/female) and Ludhiana population (105.88 eggs/female). The total developmental period among the five populations of B. tau was the longest for the Pantnagar population (16.20 days) followed by Solan (13.90 days), Hisar (12.60 days), Ludhiana (12.30 days) and Jaach (11.60 days). The true intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm) was 0.120, 0.138, 0.140, 0.116 and 0.153 for the respective geographical regions while the finite rate of increase (?) was 1.13, 1.15, 1.15, 1.12 and 1.16, thus indicating that the fruit fly from Jaach location is more reproductive than the other five geographical regions of North India. Since the study will be useful in knowing the multiplication rate of fruit fly in specific area, accordingly the management practices for this species can be formulated on the bases of these studies. The results thus indicated the geographical variations among different populations of B. tau