A laboratory study (27° C-30° C) on the suitability o f tropical fruits fo r the larval development shows that it is in the order o f : Papaya > carambola > banana > mango = water-melon > jackfruit > citrus > pineapple. In a suitable host i.e. papaya, the weight o f the pupa was 11.6 g and life-cycle was 20.4 days. In the least suitable host i.e. pineapple, the weight o f pupa was 4.9 g and life-cycle was 1 7.4 days. With papaya as food, the life-cycle o f D. dorsalis depended on the density o f the larvae within the food. A density of 10 larvae in 20 got foods had a life-cycle o f 21. 7 days, whereas a density o f 50 larvae in the same quantity’ o f food had a life-cycle o f 15.1 days. The percentage o f adult emergence decreased with increase in the larval density.