فصلنامه تحقیقات حشره شناسی
سال نهم شماره 1 (پیاپی 33، بهار 1396)

Insects can be used as a food in livestock and poultry. However, there may be some obstacles in using insects as animal’s diet. The priority of the obstacles from the perspective of animal husbandry managers was studied in two provinces, Alborz and Tehran, Iran. At first, the obstacles were categorized in 8 main and 87 sub-main indices providing a questionnaire given to 20 experts randomly to be filled up. The initial data derived from questionnaires were analyzed The weight of each index calculated and compare by using Expert Choice 11 software Results showed that the health and food obstacle, the culture and attitudes obstacle and the economic obstacles with the indices of 0.418, 0.231 and 0.143 were the most important, respectively. Amongst the sub-indices, the risk of row consumption of insects 0.054, uncertainty in security and health 0.051 and the residue of insecticides 0.047 were the most important obstacles in producing food for livestock and poultry.

Callosobruchus maculatus is an important cowpea pest in stored condition. The longer effects, safeness of gamma radiation doses are less hazardous for both human and environment. Effects of different gamma radiation (Co60) doses on amount of nitrogen, protein, pest damage, life cycle, fecundity were evaluated under laboratory conditions. Results of gamma radiation doses increased found ineffectual on cowpea nitrogen and protein contents. Insect larvae damage on cowpea in comparison to controlled treatment at different interval and during 21 days sampling period observed significant (f=17.89, df=5, 2) P=0.0001). Max. (29.8%) and Min. (2.46%) larvae damages recorded at 1st and 21st days after hatching. Effects of different gamma radiation doses (5to 50 Gy) on viability of 100 eggs in each treatment showed that significant (f=7.57, df=4, 8) P=0.0001). While least effects recorded for 5 and 10 Gy, hatchability reduced to 57% and 56% for influence of 20 and 25 Gy radiation, with increasing more gamma radiation complete eggs mortality recorded. Results of 20 to 80 Gy radiation on cohort population of adults found significant (f=5.27, df=6, 7) P=0.0001). Min. control recorded for 20 Gy in group a of Duncan method and with increasing gamma doses radiation, reduction on rate of insect fecundity observed and maximum 44.68% recorded for 70 and 80 Gy doses in comparison to control treatment. The positive controlof gamma radiations doses on cowpea seed beetle developmental stages seems to be a safe protective technique against this store insect pest.

The Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann)is a quarantine pest which was reported in Fars province, Iran in 2007. During the years 2010-2011 in a pomegranate orchard in Shiraz, kaolin effect was evaluated in five treatments consisted of kaolin (Spydan® WP 95%), spraying with concentrations of 3% and 5% and at every 2 and 4 weeks intervals of treatment with control group in three replications to reduce damage caused by C. capitata. There was no significant difference between the various concentrations of kaolin but fewer fruits were infected during period of kaolin sprayed every two weeks. Investigation of the effect of kaolin on the host plant showed that kaolin5% had no effect on the total amount of leaf chlorophyl and temperature of the central part of pomegranate trees but average of fruit diameter coated with kaolin5% was larger than other fruits. Thus, according to the results, pomegranate trees sprayed with kaolin, at every 2 weeks, can be used successfully to control the Mediterranean fruit fly’s damage. Also kaolin5% had positive effect on size of pomegranate fruits.

Dubas bug, Ommatissus lybicus,is one of the serious pest of palm trees throughout the world and Iran. Pesticides are applied in highly infested areas. In order to risk of pesticides, it is necessary for safe alternatives. The aim of this study was the evaluating of sublethal (LC25) effects of fennel and pennyroyal essential oils on life table parameters of Ommatissus lybicus using two-sex life table. The LC25 values for fennel and pennyroyal essential oils were 23 and 30 µL/L, respectively. The results show that the essential oils caused the significant decreasing of fecundity, oviposition days and immature survival rate of Dubas bug. The highest and lowest immature stages period was on fennel (76.09±0.21 days) and control (73.88±0.24 days). Also, the highest adult longevity was on control (16.63±0.32) and the lowest was on fennel (16.00±0.42). The total developmental time of Dubas bugs was significantly decreased in essential oil treatments. Therefore, essential oils decreased the life table parameters including r, λ and R0, significantly. The essential oils treatment decreased survival rate and life expectancy of Dubas bug. The lowest survival rate, mxj, exj were observed in pennyroyal treatment. Our results showed that the pennyroyal essential oil was more effective than fennel essential oil on biological parameters, survival rate and fecundity of Dubas bugs.

The family Megachilidae with more than 4000 wordwide described species is the thirth family of polliniting bees. In this research, in order to investigating the species diversity of Megachilidae, SDR software was used in different regions. The number of species in three counties Yazd, Mehriz and Taft, abundance percentage of each species than total species that collected is determined. The indices of abundance, diversity, evenness, richness species and also habitat similarity index for 48 species that collected in the three counties was calculated during 2012 and 2013. Megachile rubripes with relative abundance 48% in Yazd county in 2012, Anthidium florentinumwith relative abundance 22.5% in 2013, Megachile pilicrus with relative abundance 26.3% in Mehriz county in 2012, A. florentinum with abundance 19.3% in 2013, Lithurgus chrysurus with relative abundance 23.8%% in Taft county in 2012, Osmia caerulescens with relative abundance 29% in 2013 have the most abundance between species. According to alfa species diversity indices, determined that Mehriz and Taft counties have hiegher species diversity in 2013. According to satatistic comparation of evenness indices of species of Yazd, Mehriz counties and also Taft county has similarity evenness in 2012, 2013, but species abundance evenness was more in Mehriz and Taft counties than Yazd county. Species evenness was similar in Mehriz and Taft counties in 2012, 2013. Rarefaction method showed that Taft county has hiegher richness species in 2012. β diversity index showed that Mehriz and Taft counties have the most similarity in 2012, 2013.

Potato tuber moth, Phthorimea operculella, is one of the most important pests of potato in Iran. Biology of the pest on two commercial potato cultivars, Sante and Arinda, was studied in Andimeshk, north of Khuzestan province, Iran. Samplings were weekly performed from two separate fields cultivated by two cultivars during two agricultural seasons (2013-2015). Adults and immatures monitoring were done by using sex pheromone trap and direct count respectively. Results showed that adults occurred with two months difference in the first and second agricultural seasons which is related to different means temperature in the two studied seasons. Significant correlation was observed between adult densities and weekly means temperature. First adults appeared on both cultivars in early February and December in the first and second agricultural seasons and peaked at the end of March, respectively. The peaks of egg number were observed at The end of March for the first and second agricultural seasons, respectively. First larvae were observed in early and mid of March in the first and second years. Larvae peaked at The end of March and mid of April for the first and second years, respectively. No considerable difference was observed among occurrence, peak and activity time of the developmental stages of potato tuberworm on The two tested cultivars.

In order to study the Psylloidea fauna of Kurdistan province, Iran, the specimens were collected from different regions of the province during 2012 and 2013. Totally 19 species of 7 genera and 4 subfamilies were identified belonging to Aphalaridae (1 species), Liviidae (6 species), Psyllidae (7 species) and Triozidae (5 species) families. Of these, one species, Camarotoscena trjapitzini Loginova, 1968, is a new record for Iranian fauna and 17 species are new for the province. By considering the results of this research, the number of identified Psyllid species from Iran increases to 96 from 27 genera and 5 families.

The Noghi scale, Salicicola davatchii Balachowski & Kaussari (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) is considered as a pest for cultivated pistachio trees in Iran. This insect sucks up of plant sap and causes tree's weakness as well as decreases of yield quantity and quality. The biology and lifecycle of S. davatchi were studied in commercial pistachio orchards in Rafsanjan, southern part of Iran. The results showed that this scale usually lives on tree's branches, although the nymphs were found on leaves and fruits occasionally. The crawlers move very slowly and just for a very short distances, therefore usually shields of scales are found in piles on branches. The males appear on pistachio branches from late March that is continued for 20 days, and 7 to 10 days later, eggs were formed under female’s shield. The first stage nymphs appeared on branches from early May and reached the peak 5 to 10 days later. The second nymphal stage appeared at late June. Those scales that develop on either leaves or fruits produce second generation, although these nymphs are unable to complete their lifecycle due to fruit harvesting as well as leaves fall. This species produces one successful generation within a year including two nymphal stages. This scale hibernates as the second nymphal stage.