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A field experiment was conducted during 2014-15 in kharif and rabi season at GKVK and IIHR,
Bengaluru, to document the population estimation and seasonal incidence of fruit borers viz.,
Helicovarpa armigera (Hubner), Diaphania indica (Saunder) and Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillet)
on bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.). Outcome of the study yielded, fruit infestation of fruit fly
was more (40.07 & 30.57), followed by pumpkin caterpillar (5.85 & 3.20) and American bollworm
was (1.88 & 1.95) in both kharif and rabi season, respectively. Fruit fly fruit infestation was peak
during last week of September (52 %) and in last week of February (33 %). Incidence of fruit fly in
kharif recorded significant positive correlation with rainfall (r = 0.71) and positively correlated with
maximum temperature (r = 0.35) and maximum RH (r = 0.59). During rabi, significant positive
correlation with maximum temperature (r = 0.76). Multiple linear regression suggests that incidence
of fruit fly on bitter gourd was influenced by 51 per cent by rainfall during kharif and 59 per cent by
maximum temperature during rabi.
Keywords: Bitter gourd, Fruit borer, Fruit fly, Seasonal incidence, Helicovarpa armigera