摘要 : In Mauritius, the use of SIT is being investigated as a potential technique to control Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) (Diptera: Tephritidae), a pest of economic importance affecting the horticultural sector. For economic mass rearin... 展开 In Mauritius, the use of SIT is being investigated as a potential technique to control Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) (Diptera: Tephritidae), a pest of economic importance affecting the horticultural sector. For economic mass rearing of competitive flies, development of an optimum larval diet is essential. Presently, a bagasse-based solid larval diet with many drawbacks is being used. This study aimed to formulate a gel larval diet and to assess its adaptation over five generations. Different gel diets were formulated using different acid concentration, types of yeasts and Guar Gum as the gelling agent. The optimal gel diet formulation was selected and assessed. At F5, a Fried test and a cost analysis was done. The pH of the diet varied with the type of yeast and acid concentration. The pupal volume drops with decrease in pH. The volume of pupae, mean pupal weight and the percentage pupal recovery were affected whilst the adult emergence, percentage fliers and rate of fliers were unaffected. Over the five generations, the gel diet formulation with Torula yeast and 1 ml acid yielded the highest percentage pupal recovery and average pupal weight. The pupal volume, average pupal weight, percentage pupal recovery, percentage adult emergence in the gel diet decreased from parental to F1 and increased after the F3, recovering the initial value. The percentage flight ability and rate of fliers increased from parental generation to the next generations and was sustained during the next 5 generations. This demonstrated that B. zonata reared on gel diet required a minimum of 5 generations for its adaptation. A Fried competitiveness value of (0.56 +/- 0.09) and the cost analysis [gel diet (USD 5.41 / Kg) versus solid diet (USD 6.82 /kg)] were obtained. Accordingly, the gel diet with Torula yeast could be recommended as a best alternative for the economical rearing of B. zonata. 收起