Life cycle, damage and control of the pistachio bud-borer moth Telphusa pistaciae (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

The life cycle of the pistachio bud-borer moth, Telphusa pistaciae Sattler,was monitored on pistachio trees in a cultivated plantation in Sirjan, southern Iran, through 2010–2012. It was found that the adult moths appeared in nature from early May and egg laying was started around 10 May. The first-instar larvae bore directly through the upper epidermis, producing a short and twisting galleries. It feds on the parenchyma for 4 months. The second instar larvae appeared around 20 September and dispersed out of the galleries and penetrated into buds. The 2nd instar larvae overwinter inside the buds, and then become active from Early March, when fed on buds’ internal tissues. The larvae attack any available buds consecutively. The pupation occurred around 20 May and the adult emergence and egg laying were also lasted about 40 days. The life cycle of this moth completed through a year. It was observed that the larvae cause severe damage into the both flower and vegetative buds, resulting yield loss and trees weakness. Based on the field survey, carefully timed chemical sprays can cause high mortality to the first-instar larvae in second half of June.