author(s)
Abhilash J, Naveen NE, Patil SU and Sharanabasappa

abstract
The management of melon fruit fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae) simply through the application of chemical pesticides is very difficult. Keeping in mind the aforesaid hazardous impact of chemicals on human’s health. The present study on assessment of botanicals against melon fruit fly in ridge gourd was carried out at farmer field at Basavangangur, Shivamogga during Rabi 2016-17. During the course of investigation, among six different botanicals, the lowest fruit infestation of 26.53% was registered from Azadirachtin 1% EC @ 2ml/l treatment followed by NSKE 5 % treatment with 29.06 % fruit infestation. Similarly, Azadirachtin 1% EC treatment gave highest fruit yield of 91.85 q/ha. Among various botanical treated fruits of ridge gourd, Azadiractin 1 % EC and NSKE 5 % treated fruits recorded higher per cent ovipositional deterrence over control of 74.26 and 68.26 %, respectively and lower egg hatchability of 60.50 and 62.25 %, respectively. Thus the present results concluded that spraying with Azadiractin 1 per cent EC and NSKE 5 per cent could prove the substitute to commonly used chemical pesticides for the management of melon fruit fly on ridge gourd.