DETERRENT EFFECT OF NEEM SEED KERNEL EXTRACT OVIPOSITION OF THE ORIENTAL FRUIT-FLY (DIPTERA, TEPHRITIDAE) IN GUAVA

In laboratory choice and no-choice tests, guava, Psidium guajava L., f ruits treated with neem seed kernel extracts resulted in reduction in ovipositional preference of the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsali s (Hendel). In tile choice test, the number of eggs laid in treated gu ava fruits at concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 4.0% was reduced from 87.5 to 99.2% compared with eggs in untreated fruit. Flies were not h abituated to neem-treated fruits at concentrations of 0.2% or higher i n 7 d. When a yellow plastic oviposition container filled with guava j uice was placed together with a fruit treated with 4.0 or 20.0% extrac ts in a cage, all eggs were laid in the former, and none in tile latte r. These results indicate that neem seed kernel extract is an oviposit ional deterrent for the oriental fruit fly.