Biological Characteristics of carob moth Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on two commercial pistachio cultivars and artificial diet.

The carob moth،، Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a serious pest of pomegranate in Iran and a well known pest of many fruits from a wide range of plant families as well as dried fruits during storage. Biological characteristics of carob moth Ectomyelois ceratoniae was studied in a growth chamber at 30±1 C، relative humidity of 70±5% and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L: D) hours on two commercial Pistachio cultivars and an artificial diet. The shortest larval developmental time belonged to artificial diet and the longest period was on Kalequchi cultivar. The highest rate of the intrinsic rate of increase (rm)، finite rate of increase، net reproductive rate (R0) and gross reproductive rate were observed on artificial diet. These parameters were 0. 1407±0. 0064 d-1، 1. 151±0. 0075 d-1، 58. 94±10. 44 female offspring and 95. 02±2. 09 eggs/female on artificial diet respectively. Mean generation time on artificial diet، Akbari and Kalequchi cultivars were calculated 29. 05±0. 33، 31. 92±0. 21 and 33. 1±0. 27 days، respectively. Artificial diet proved to be the most suitable hosts for E. ceratoniae because of shorter developmental period، higher percentage of survival and higher number of eggs. The data point to the role of host in increasing local E. ceratoniae populations.