Mating Frequency, Duration and Time in Baluchistan Melon Fly Myiopardalis pardalina (Bigot) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Myiopardalis pardalina (Bigot) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is one of the injurious pests that damage melon fruits. The male sterility technique is one of the genetic methods that have been proposed for controlling fruit flies. This method is more effective in once-mated females. So mating frequency, starting time and mating duration by females and males of Baluchistan melon fly were studied in the laboratory (Department of Entomology, Institute of Plant Protection, Tehran, Iran). Mean number of matings/female was 5.83±0.48 during the 8 day test period. The presence or absence of the host did not have any significant influence on mating frequency. The mean number of matings/male was 6.26±0.45. Mating predominantly occurred in early afternoon. Mating duration in female and male series was 4.95±0.598 and 6.822±0.378 hours, respectively. The first mating usually took longer in comparison with other matings.