Survey on bio-ecology of Tortrix viridana and its distribution in West-Azerbaijan province

The oak leaf roller moth (Tortrix viridana L.) is one of the most important oak pests in Iran. In order to investigate fluctation changes of this pest, weekly samplings of its different life stages were done in West-Azerbayjan. The number of larval instars were determined by growing and measuring the head capsula width of 1000 larvae at different ages. The effect of host plant on weight changes of final instar larvae and pupae on three oak species of Quercus infectoria, Q. brantii and Q. libani was studied. Populational changes of adult insects were investigated using 10 triangle pheromone traps. Five larval instars were determined for this pest. Neonate larvae of the pest start their activities from late March in Mirabad and from early April in Paradanan. The formed larvae and pupae on gall oak (Q. infectoria) weigh more than there growing on two other oak species. Adult insects were first captured on May 23 in Mirabad (6.2 insects in each trap). The highest degree of pest capture was also recorded at the peak
time of pest population with the average of 132 insects in each trap in Mirabad which indicates that this area is highly infected with the pest. The oak leaf roller moths stopped their activity in mid-July in all of the studied areas.