Research Projects

Fruit flies, a diverse group of acalyptrate dipterans, have adapted to breed and develop in bamboo-shoots as primary pests or saprophytes. India, a hotspot for various bamboo species, has 148 species in 23 genera. This project aims to study the species composition and characterization of adults and immature stages of bamboo-shoot flies. Despite nearly 60 species recorded in India, host plant details and infestation sites have not been studied. The project will focus on host use pattern studies to unravel oviposition, larval development, and host preferences, helping to delineate primary pests from saprophytic flies associated with bamboo. Morphological characterization of this lesser-known taxa can help resolve higher-level phylogeny of Tephritidae, as there are gaps in postabdominal and immature structures of several taxa from India. Generating barcodes of Indian species of bamboo-shoot flies can fill the void in phylogenetic analysis and resolve higher-level classifications. Illustrated diagnostic keys and barcodes will facilitate precise identification of these flies.