School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences - Theses
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ItemStudies on the development, activity, and longevity, of the Queensland fruit fly, Strumeta tryoni (Froggatt) and evidence of a cold-hardy Victorian race( 1956)Following the discovery of the Queensland fruit fly, Strumeta tryoni (Froggatt), in Eastern Victoria, a laboratory was set up in 1949 at Bairnsdale for the purpose of studying the fly under controlled conditions, and as a centre from which to carry out field observations. Previous work on S. tryoni in the northern states of Australia had been mainly in the field and concerned with the life history of the fly, with its control by sprays and baits, and with luring methods. In Victoria, the problem was rather different as the possibility of completely eradicating the fly was being considered, and very little was known of its habits or of its life history under Victorian conditions. The original objectives of the investigation were:- To determine the extent of S. tryoni infestation in East Gippsland, Victoria. To study the distribution and fruiting periods of wild plants which are hosts for S. tryoni. To study the life history of S. tryoni under laboratory and under field conditions. Field work included the setting up and replenishing of lure pots hung in wild and in cultivated fruiting plants in districts throughout East Gippsland, the collecting of large numbers of wild fruits, and field cage studies in some districts. Although much time was spent in collecting fruits and maintaining lures throughout the investigation, it became apparent as the work proceeded, that laboratory studies were likely to yield more additional information than were continuous field investigations, as the fly population in East Gippsland was so low that it was difficult to obtain infested wild fruits or to lure many flies. The greater part of this report is, therefore, concerned with a study of the life history of S. tryoni and with laboratory experiments, including the effect of environmental factors during the larval, pupal and adult stages.