The oviposition deterrent effects of four phenolic compounds (quercetin, rutin, gallic acid and tannic acid) were investigated against the melon fruit fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae. All the phenolic compounds effectively reduced egg laying in choice and nochoice conditions except rutin. Also observations made for their effect on ovipunctures made by female melon fly showed a significant decrease in the mean numbers of ovipunctures made on the substrate treated with quercetin, gallic acid and tannic acid under choice and multiple-choice tests. Rutin had no effect on oviposition behaviour

under no-choice condition. Under multiple choice conditions rutin significantly reduced mean number of ovipunctures. The results of our studies clearly demonstrated the oviposition deterrent activity of the phenolic compounds.