Determination and field study of grape cicada in Zanjan

Increase of the population of grape cicada was occurred in the major vineyards of Zanjan province in 2012- 2015. Identification the damaging species and its growth process were carried out in four infected orchards located in Shenat vicinity of Abhar, Zanjan, Iran during two-year study from early June 2013. In each weekly visit, 30 grape bushes selected randomly in each orchard and were examined carefully to find the presence of nymph exit holes from the soil, exuviae, adult cicadas, egg laying clefts and incubated eggs. All the collected specimens were identified as Chloropsalta smaragdula Haupt 1920. First exit holes, larval exuviae, and adults were observed on June 11and 14, June 11and 14, June 16 and June 14 respectively; first egg laying symptoms on the newly grown shoots were also observed on July 2nd incubated on Aug. 2nd. Additionally, to prepare the preliminary distribution and infection rate map of the pest in the region ,three grape shrubs of three orchards in 40 villages in Abhar and Khorram- Dareh counties were examined for recording the percent of egg laying clefts to estimate the infection rates using the software of Arc view.