Abstract

The effect of four temperature regimes (20, 25, 27 and 30oC) was studied on the life history strategy of the Carambola Fruit Fly (CFF) Bactrocera carambolae Drew and Hancock (Diptera: Tephritidae) at 75±5% and photoperiod of 12:12 L:D for the period of a year (June 2013 – May 2014). Pre-oviposition period was longer at 20oC and shorter for all other temperature regimes. Contrastingly, oviposition period, gross fecundity (egg/female), net fecundity (adult/female), daily egg (egg/day), female and male longevity (days) decreased at 20oC and increased with increase in temperature, respectively. The intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), net reproductive rate (Ro), gross reproductive rate (GRR) and life expectancy (ex) decrease at 20oC and reached optimum at 25 – 27oC with a critical decline at 30oC. All observed values revealed significant difference (p

Key words: Bactrocera carambolae, fecundity, life expectancy, life table, rate of increase, temperature