FLIGHT MUSCLE AND FLIGHT ACTIVITY OF MELON FLY, BACTROCERA CUCURBITAE (DIPTERA: TEPHRITIDAE)

Abstract

The flight activity and flight muscle of the melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae
(Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae) were observed. The Tethered technique was
used to observe the flight activity in this study. The flight activity, and wing and
flight muscles were compared between male and female melon flies. The results
indicate that the female was relatively better and strong flier than the male. The
mean duration of the flight activity of the females was 13.90 min/hour and of the
males was 7.12 min./hour. The mean length, width, volume of wings of the males
were 6.07 mm, 2.67 mm and 10.99 mm³, respectively. On the other hand, the
mean length, width and volume of the wings of females were 7.07 mm, 2.87 mm
and 15.60 mm³, respectively. In case of wing muscles, the mean volume of dorsal
longitudinal muscle (DLM) in male and female was found 5.20 mm³ and 5.67
mm³, respectively. The mean length of flight wing muscle of male and female
was 2.22 and 2.23 mm, respectively and the mean breadth of male and female
was 1.65 and 1.77 mm, respectively.