| Summary: | Host preference of <i>Bactrocera latifrons</i> (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), major chili and nightshade pest, was studied using seven host plant species of family Solanaceae. Two nightshade species, eggplant, <i>Solanum melongena</i> L. and turkey berry, <i>Solanum torvum</i> Sw.; three pepper and one large chili cultivar of <i>Capsicum annum</i> L., banana pepper, cayenne pepper, noom pepper and duey kai chili; and one small chili cultivar of <i>Capsicum frutescens</i> L., bird chili, were used as tested host plants of <i>B. latifrons</i> for a series of choice test and no-choice test under the laboratory. Results revealed that <i>B. latifrons</i> preferred <i>Capsicum</i> fruits for oviposition rather than <i>Solanum</i> fruits. Bird chili and banana pepper were the most preferred host for <i>B. latifrons</i>, with the highest number of pupae per gram of fruit in no-choice and choice experiment, respectively. Although the best larval performance parameters of <i>B. latifrons</i> were better for eggplant than for other Solanaceous plants, fruit characteristics and total phenolic content in fruit play a major role for host preference of <i>B. latifrons</i>. Turkey berry was least preferred by <i>B. latifrons</i>, with the lowest number of pupae per fruit and it was not oviposited by <i>B. latifrons</i> female fly under the choice situation at all stages of ripeness.
|
|---|