Bionomics and damage potential of fruit flyDacus persicus(Diptera: Tephritidae): a prospective biological control agent ofCalotropis procera(Apocynaceae)

Life history and damage potential of the fruit fly, Dacus persicus Hendel, a prospective biological control agent for calotrope, Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. Aiton, are described. The duration of life cycle of D. persicus (egg to the adult) was 42.2 ± 0.38 days (range 38–50 days). Oviposition commenced 5.1 ± 0.2 days after emergence and each female infested 4.5 ± 0.2 fruits during its lifespan. D. persicus produced 76.9 ± 5.21 larvae from which 66.1 ± 3.7 adults emerged with a sex ratio of 4:3 female to male. The lifespan of adults was 16.3 ± 0.68 days. The fruit fly larvae destroyed 100% of immature seeds in infested pods and significantly reduced the biomass of infested fruits by 62%. The field host specificity, high reproductive capacity, and damage potential of D. persicus indicate this species as a potential biological control of C. procera in Australia.