Bioecology of pistachio twig borer moth Kermania pistaciella Amsel, in Rafsanjan and Isfahan-Iran.
Pistachio woodborer, Kermania pistaciella Amsel. (Lep.: Oinophylidae) is one of the most important pests of pistachio in Iran. Some of morphological characters and its biology were studied in two orchards in Rafsanjan. For this study, 80 pistachio branches were selected and visited once a week. The larval emergence was recorded and cocoon formation was located. Seasonal occurrence of adults were recorded based on marked cocoons on branches, caged cocoons and the number of captured males in cylindrical pheromone traps bated with virgin females. To determine sex ratio, six hundred cocoons were caged and emerged moths (males or females) were recorded. For determination of the pest oviposition period, totally 10 trees and from each tree two branches and two fruit clusters were randomly selected. Number of hatched and unhatched eggs was recorded in two days interval. By visual observation, larval tunneling behavior and locomotion were recorded on 50 branches and 50 fruit clusters. By visiting 15 pistachio producing regions in Isfahan, distribution areas, and percent of pest damage was determined. For this study, 110 pistachio branches were selected and visited twice a week. Percent of infestation of the pest in Burkhart, Ardestan, Najafabad, Kashan, Natanz, Naiin and Shahreza were 88.9+/-17, 15.25, 41, 0.0, 23.46+/-32 and 0, respectively. Overwintering was identified as 4th larval instars. This study disclosed 7th and 15th of March and 7th of April as larval emergence initiation, its peak, and termination, respectively and this takes usually 32 days whereas the pupae period was identified one month. Cocoons were formed underside of branches. Larval emergence time was not affected by location of branches and their vertical and horizontal position. By using marked cocoons, adults' emergence initiation, its peak and termination was recognized 18th and 20th of April and 2nd of May, respectively. Start, peak and end of male moth capture in pheromone traps was 18th and 26th of April and 2nd of May, respectively. The number of captured males in two last days at traps with two and four day's old females was not significantly different. Start, peak, and end of oviposition were 24th of April and 4-10th of May, respectively. The eggs hatched almost after one week and larvae tunneled in the pedicel of fruit cluster and branches and began to feed. This study revealed that, there are four larval instars in pistachio woodborer life cycle and different larval instars could be separated by measuring the width of head-capsule and pronotum. Sex ratio was also determined as 1 per 2.79. Also by collecting larvae and pupae from five different geographical areas and placing them in cages the emerged natural enemies were collected. Three parasitoids and two predators were collected. The parasitoids were identified as: Chelonus sp (Hym.: Braconidae), pteromalus sp (Hym.: Pteromalidae) and one unidentified species from Ichneumonidae. An ant as a pupal predator and a spider feeding on the larvae were collected.
Abbaszadeh
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College of Agriculture, Valie-E-Asr University P.O. Box 77139-36417, Rafsanjan, Iran. ghabbaszadeh@yahoo.com
Seiedoleslami
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H
Samih
M A
MA
Hatami
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B
D000818:Animals; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D007492:Iran; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008297:Male; D009036:Moths / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D010058:Oviposition / Q000502:physiology*; D027927:Pistacia / Q000469:parasitology*; D012621:Seasons; D012744:Sex Ratio; D013997:Time Factors