Evaluation of the population density and infestation rate of safflower fly, Acanthiophilus helianthi (Dip.: Tephritidae) in intercropping patterns of chickpea and safflower

Safflower fly, Acanthiophilus helianthi Rossi (Diptera: Tephritidae), is one of the important pests of safflower in the world. The intercropping pattern can be one of the suitable and safe methods to control the pest. Therefore, the influenceof different intercropping patterns of chickpea and safflower (sole cropping of safflower, replacement series consisted of 4:4, 2:2, 1:1, 3:1, 1:3, and additive series consisted of 20 and 40% chickpea in two situations: between and around of safflower rows) on the population density and infestation rate of this pest was studied in a randomized complete block design at the research field of Kurdistan University. Results showed that different intercropping patterns affected the population density of the pest significantly. The population density of the pest in all intercropping patterns of chickpea and safflower except 20% I pattern was lower than the sole cropping of safflower. 1:3 and 3:1 intercropping patterns resulted in the lowest average population density of the pest among other cropping patterns (18.33 ± 0.6 and 220 ± 3, respectively). Studying the infestation rate of the pest also showed thatthe mean density percentages of the infested capitula per plant were significantly different among the cropping patterns, and 1:3 and 3:1 intercropping patterns had the lowest mean densities of the infestation rate (6.1 ± 1.1 and 8.3 ± 0.5%, respectively). According to the results, 1:3 and 3:1 intercropping patterns showed a high potential for using in the integrated management of safflower fly among the other studied patterns.