ATTRACTION OF BRACONID PARASITOID, Psytallia sp. TO COLOURED TRAPS

Fruit flies (Diptera : Tephritidae) that belong  to the subfamily Daeinae, tribe Dacini are  important pests of many fruits and vegetables  throughout the world. The present study was  conducted at University ofAgricultural Sciences,  Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra, Bangalore  (12“58'N; 77°35’ E 930 MSL). The objective  of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of sticky  traps of different colours and shapes in attracting  fruit flies (Bactrocera sp.). However, it was found  that these traps along with fruit flies also attracted  a wide variety of insects. Interestingly, Psylullia  sp., a braconid parasitoid of fruit flies was  attracted in good numbers to these traps and their  attraction to different colours and shapes of traps  also seemed selective. So, the data were used to  investigate whether colour, shape and size of the  traps influence the attraction of Psylallia sp. to  the traps.