The effect of cold incubation on the development of Bactrocera zonata. (Saunders) stages under laboratory conditions

Abstract

: Laboratory experiment was designed aimed at the evaluation of different incubation periods on the development of Bactrocera zonata . Larvae of the same instar was subjected to cold incubation periods for 1-15 days as treatments at 8 ◦ and 50% R.H. The periods to complete their life cycle after cold treatments were counted to detect the coldest period affecting the survival of B. zonata . Results revealed that, compared to the controls which completed their life cycle normally, all treatments periods did not affect the life cycle of the cold treated insects except those of the 9 th day treatment which produced about half of the population, while the treatments from 13-15 days resulted in the survival of the highest population of insects completing their life cycle.