Diversity of Host Preference of Peach Fruit Fly Bactrocera zonata (Saunders, 1842) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) is a major pest that affects a variety of fruits and vegetables globally, including in Pakistan. This pest causes significant economic damage to the fruit and vegetable industry, mainly due to strict quarantine regulations imposed by importing countries to prevent its spread. The present study examined the host preferences of B. zonata for various fruits (Prunus armeniaca, Prunus domestica, Prunus persica, Cucumis melo, Citrullus lanatus, Prunus avium, Ziziphus jujube) and vegetables (Momordica caranthia, Beta vulgaris, Daucus carota, Solanum lycopersicum, Cucumis sativus, Solanum melongena, Cucurbita pepo) under field and laboratory conditions. The study found that apricot (Prunus armeniaca) was the most preferred fruit, while jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) was the least preferred. For vegetables, bitter melon (Momordica charantia) was favored by B. zonata, while pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) was the least selected. The research indicated that fruit flies can adapt their host preferences based on availability host plants. This behavior may significantly impact the yields of fruit-bearing plants.