Biology of Jasmin moth Palpita unionalis (Lep.: Pyralidae) in laboratory and field conditions in Zanjan (Tarom-Olia) region

The Jasmin moth is one of the main pests of nurseries, young olive orchards and also on the suckers of old trees, its biology was studied in the field and laboratory. The female of jasmin moth mates one day after emergence and deposites her eggs in third day individually or in one row on the subsurfaces of leaves. Terminal rows of leaves are prefered for oviposition. The mean of fecundity is 375.125±29 and the most eggs are deposited in early days of oviposition period.. This pest has five instars, L1 and L2 are yellowish and the others green. The larval duration stage is 22.28 ± 0.22. The larvae feed on the leaves at the end of the twigs, forming silken webs in which they sheltered and pupated later. The primary stages were feed on the leaves parenchyma and the others on the whole leaves except midribs. The twigs and fruites are attacked as well as leaves during heavy infestation. The mean percent of mortality was nearly %30 during the larval stages. The pupation lasted 7.83±0.112 days and" its mortality was nearly %14. The sex ratio (Male: Female) was(1:1.14). The mean longevity of males and females respectively were 14.33±2.4 and 12.59±1.63 days. It produced 8 generations in lab. with mean of 42±0.821 days for each generation and at least four generations in Tarom region environmental conditions. The mean mortality of each generation caused by nonliving agents was: %26.7, %13.4, %50, and % 23.4 respectively. The differences between means of lifespan in various generations were significant in %1 level (P<0. 0001). The fifth generation provided the overwintering stages that mostly were as L3- L5 and pupae.