ANTIBIOSIS EFFECT OF PHLOROGLUCINOL ON THE LARVAE OF HERBIVOROUS INSECT BACTROCERA CUCURBITAE (COQUILLETT) (DIPTERA: TEPHRITIDAE).

The secondary metabolite, phloroglucinol is a simple phenolic compound, widely distributed in plants. In the present study, the influence of phloroglucinol was investigated on the larvae of Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae) which is a major pest of plants from cucurbitacae family. Control and five concentrations (5, 25, 125, 625 and 3125ppm) of phloroglucinol incorporated in artificial diet were fed to first , second and third instar larvae and parameters like larval period, total developmental period, percent pupation, percent emergence, larval weight , pupal weight, mean relative growth rate and food assimilated were studied. The larval growth of first and second instar was affected in a negative manner while the third instar larval growth was not affected by phloroglucinol. Percent pupation and percent emergence decreased significantly in a dose dependent manner in first and second instar larvae. The present findings indicate immense potential of phloroglucinol to control the insect pest.