Symptoms of infestation on fruits of ushar plant Calotropis procera (Ait)‎ Ait. by the cucurbit fruit fly Dacus longistylus (Wiedemann)‎ (Diptera : Tephritidae)‎ western Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

This preliminary study was conducted during the years 1996-1997 on the fruits of the desert shrub producing the milky-latex Oshar plant Calotropis procera (AIT) Ait, which is widely grown in the western region of Saudi Arabia.

Lab and field studies showed that the cucurbit fruit fly Dacus longistylus (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a serious pests with regard to the fruits of this desert plant.

Ovipositing females lay their eggs in groups (8-10 egg masses) inside the fruit.

Upon hatching immature larvae feed voraciously on the fibrous and pulp contents of the infested fruit.

It has three larval instars and after the third moult the third larval instar make an exit hole on the fruit skin through which it stays for 48 h outside, then enter in the pupal stage most probably in the ground under dried fallen leaves.

In severe stages of infestation the fruits change color to whitish gray with subsequent shrivel in size, reduction in weight.

Microbial infestation ultimately lead to fruit deterioration.