Host Preference of Bactrocera latifrons (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae) Among Fruits of Solanaceous Plants

Host preference of Bactrocera latifrons (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), major chili and nightshade pest, was studied using seven host plant species of family Solanaceae. Two nightshade species, eggplant, Solanum melongena L. and turkey berry, Solanum torvum Sw.; three pepper and one large chili cultivar of Capsicum annum L., banana pepper, cayenne pepper, noom pepper and duey kai chili; and one small chili cultivar of Capsicum frutescens L., bird chili, were used as tested host plants of B. latifrons for a series of choice test and no-choice test under the laboratory. Results revealed that B. latifrons preferred Capsicum fruits for oviposition rather than Solanum fruits. Bird chili and banana pepper were the most preferred host for B. latifrons, with the highest number of pupae per gram of fruit in no-choice and choice experiment, respectively. Although the best larval performance parameters of B. latifrons were better for eggplant than for other Solanaceous plants, fruit characteristics and total phenolic content in fruit play a major role for host preference of B. latifrons. Turkey berry was least preferred by B. latifrons, with the lowest number of pupae per fruit and it was not oviposited by B. latifrons female fly under the choice situation at all stages of ripeness.