Document Type : Agricultural Entomology
Author
Abstract
The pistachio fruit hull borer moth, Arimania komaroffi Ragonot (Lepidoptera: Pyrallidae) was first collected from the cultivated pistachio trees, Pistacia vera Linnaeus, of Rafsanjan, southern part of Iran by Samet (Samet, 1985, Entomologist’s gazette, 36: 113-115). It is known as “Krash” by the pistachio growers in Kerman province, Iran. The population density was remained low until late 1990 decade, however it increased up gradually thereafter. In addition to density, its distribution was also expanded through the recent years. Now, this insect occurs almost in 70% of Rafsanjan’s pistachio plantation areas the main pistachio production region of country, as well as it is causing damage in Sirjan and Zarand pistachio plantations as a patchy localized pest. It is present in the wild pistachio growing areas of Sirjan too. Our field survey showed that at least three parasitoid wasps species attack A. komaroffi, and they are active in pistachio orchards through July to September. The braconid wasp, Iconella myeloenta (Wilkinson) (Braconidae: Hymenoptera), was found as the most common solitary and primary parasitoid of A. komaroffi in Rafsanjan. It develops on A. komaroffi as a larval endoparasitoid. The parasitoid, Habrobracon telengai Muljarskaya (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), was found as a gregarious endoparasitoid for larvae of A. komaroffi. The parasitoid Elasmus sp. (Hym.: Eulophidae) was found as the second dominant parasitoid species for A. komaroffi. This is a gregarious larval ectoparasitoid of A. komaroffi, which attacks the fully developed moth larvae before pupation. In addition, it acts as facultative hyperparasitoid and attacks the braconid wasp I. myeloenta, the primary parasitoid of A. komaroffi, through its cocoon.
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