Studies on the Dispersal Behavior of Melon Flies, Dacus cucurbitae COQUILLETT (Diptera : Tephritidae), and the Influenceof Gamma-Irradiation on Dispersal

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The distribution of released male adults of the melon fly, Dacus cucurbitae, was not the same in three directions from the release point. This bias seemed to depend on the habitat selection of melon flies because there was a linear relationship between the number of released flies caught and that of wild flies caught. The mean dispersal distance ranged from 50 m to 90 m and there were no remarkable differences in the values among groups which were allowed to disperse for different periods. Flies released at one point reached a stable distribution pattern in two or three days after their release. Another group of flies released at a different point, where the environment was less favourable to melon flies, showed a wider range of dispersal. It was concluded that in planning the arrangement of release points for the sterile male technique, a preliminary survey is needed to determine whether habitats favourable to the insect, that is, areas of high population density, exist continuously or not. A preliminary test to assess the influence of γ-irradiation of dispersal showed that the dosage of 10000 R reduced the dispersing ability of male adults of the melon fly.
1980-11-25