Pests and Birds 99
is useful (Tanwar et al. 2010). Use of chlorpyriphos should be done with caution as
foliar spray on leaves causes leaf burning in papaya as observed by the author.
9.2 Fruit Fly
Papaya fruit fly (Toxotrypana curvicauda) is the principal insect pest of Caricaceae
papaya throughout the tropical and subtropical areas. The insect deposits its eggs
in the papaya fruit. After about 12 days, the larvae emerge and feed on the develop-
ing seeds and internal portions of the fruit. Infested fruits subsequently turn yellow
and eventually fall from trees prematurely (Mossler and Nesheim 2002). However,
damage to the fruit is not the major problem affecting production, rather the fruits
from regions with fruit flies are restricted for export to regions that do not have these
pests, unless given a postharvest hot-water treatment (Reiger 2006), is considered as
a major hurdle.
Fruit fly is a major pest of papaya as concerned with fruit export. The female
deposits eggs in the mature fruit which will later be found infested with the larvae
(Jang and Light 1991). Only thick-fleshed fruits are safe from this pest. These are
sometimes called wasps, because of the long ovipositor of the female fly as well as
similarities in size and colour (Figure 9.2a). This long egg-laying organ is as long as
the body penetrates flesh of the fruit and finally enters in seed cavity. Eggs are usually
laid in small fruits, about 2–3 in in diameter, but they may be deposited in smaller and
larger fruit, especially during high populations of the fly. The larvae, which are small
legless maggots, feed on the seed and interior parts of the fruit (Figure 9.2b). When
the larvae become mature, they emerge from the fruit, drop to the ground beneath the
plant and pupate just below the soil surface. After about two to four weeks, the flies
emerge to mate and seek fruit to lay eggs (Pena and Johnson 2006).
9.2.1 management
It is too late to attempt control measures after the female fruit fly has deposited
eggs in the fruit. Consequently, control procedures should be directed for preventing
egg-laying either by mechanical means or by applying insecticides to kill the adult
FIGURE 9.2 (See colour insert.) (a) Female fruit fly and (b) damaged fruit. (Adapted from
Pena, J.E. and F.A. Johnson, 2006, Insect Management in Papaya, The Institute of Food and
Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), University of Florida, ENY-414:1–4.)