Effect of turmeric extracts on settling response and fecundity of peach fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

Extracts of turmeric, Curcuma longa in petroleum ether, acetone and ethanol were separately prepared using Soxhlet's extractor . Settling response of peach fruit fly Bactrocera zonata to the extracts in a cage having treated or untreated guava indicated that the acetone extract had the maximum effect on settling response and fecundity. In 48 hours at 2% concentration of this extract average number of flies settled on treated guava were 0.13 as compared with 0.83 in control showing 84.64% non-preference. The progeny was inhibited in the exposed treated fruits. Acetone extract at 2% caused the maximum inhibition of 85.84% in pupation and 94.71 % in adult emergence.