Comparative Study on Esterase Isozyme Patterns between the Larvae of Bactrocera papayae and Bactrocera carambolae (Diptera:Tephritidae)

Asian papaya fruit fly, Bactrocera papayae Drew & Hancock and carambola fruit fly, Bactrocera carambolae Drew & Hanckock (Diptera: Tephritidae) are the major agricultural pests, especially fruits and vegetables, in Malaysia. A vertical type polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic technique was used for the first time to compare the esterase isozyme banding patterns between the larvae of Bactrocera papayae and B. carambolae. Two esterase isozymes, EST-1, EST-2 were detected and their relative mobility values were 0.61 and 0.46, respectively. In both species, EST-1 and EST-2 bands present in larvae. The thickness and the staining degree of bands varied in both species; and EST-2 was comparatively thicker than the EST-1 band. There was no difference in the esterase isozyme patterns of larvae of these two Bactrocera species. So, the results prove that the larvae of the two Bactrocera species have similar non-specific esterase isozyme band patterns in the same polyacrylamide gel.