EFFICACY OF METHYL EUGENOL AND CUE-LURE TRAPS FOR MONITORING MELON FRUIT FLY IN RELATION TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS IN BITTER GOURD.

Methyle eugenol and cue-lure were evaluated for monitoring the population of melon fruit fly in bitter gourd fields during 2007 in district Faisalabad and Sahiwal. Cue-lure appeared as more effective and resulted in higher male catches of fruit flies (171.82/trap/week) as compared to methyl eugenol (81.69/trap/week). At ecological conditions of Faisalabad, maximum temperature played maximum role i.e. 33.80 percent while average temperature and wind speed had the impact of 12.70 percent each on the population fluctuation. At ecological conditions of Sahiwal, maximum temperature again showed maximum contribution (40%) towards population fluctuation of melon fruit fly. Rainfall and wind speed positively correlated with the population of trapped melon fruit fly. Farmers can monitor the population of fruit fly with the trap and can control it efficiently and economically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]