فصلنامه تحقیقات حشره شناسی
سال نهم شماره 4 (پیاپی 36، زمستان 1396)

One of the main problems of pine trees in the Chitgar park located in Tehran, Iran, is pine bark beetles, which not only cause direct harms to these trees but also is vector of some viral  and bacterial pathogens. To study the seasonal population fluctuations of the pest, the sampling process of adults from pine barks was performed in different regions of the park in 2015 to 2017. Twelve infected centers in the park were selected and four cross trap were installed in each center. The mass capturing pheromone of Orthotomicus erosus and pine kairomone dispensers were used in each trap. The distance between traps was about 50 meters. According to the observed data, the emergence of adult beetles was started in early April and continued until mid-December. The average daily capture per trap was four beetles. From mid-December onwards, no beetles were caught in the traps. Mediteranean pine bark beetle had at least six flight peaks in the area of study. The most trapping were observed in 8 June, 28 June, 27 July, 16 August, 5 September and 25 September respectively. The The highest number of trap catches was registered in September, July, August, June, September and October, with 9.2, 7.7, 7.2, 5.7, 2.4 and 1.6 beetles per trap respectively. Also, the mean average of total capture during spring, summer, autumn and winter were 401, 1159,114 and zero beetles per trap; so, the most activity of the pest was observed in summer, spring and autumn respectively The highest number of beetle was in the north and the least was captured in the south of the park.

The usage of biological control agents has a significant role in the IPM programs. Habrobracon hebetor Say (Hym., Braconidae ) is considered as one of  the most important larval parasitoid in many Lepidoptera pests. In this study, the effect of Abamectin®, Proteus® and Sirinol® on biological parameters of this parasitoid was investigated in direct (contact) and indirect (poisonous host) methods. The parasitoid was breeding on Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lep.;Pyralidae) under controlled condition (25 ± 2 °C, 60 ± 5% RH, and 16L:8D photoperiod). Bioassay tests of insecticides were done by contact (direct) and poisonous host (indirect) and the demographic parameters of the wasp were calculated. Lethal concentration was obtained in contact method as 1.38, 0.037, 6.62 ppm and in poisonous host as 0.49, 2.15, 0.138 ppm, respectively. Intrinsic rate of population increase (rm) of the wasp treated with these pesticides were reduced in compare to control (0.220, 0.211, 0.227 and 0.261 female/female/day in direct and 0.212, 0.205, 0.186 and 0.260 in indirect method, respectively). In direct method, Abamectin and Sirinol had the least effect on rm compared the control. In poisonous host method Abamectin had also the least effect on this factor. Since, Abamectin had also the least effect on the longevity of this parasitoid, it can be recommended in IPM programs using the combination of parasitoid and the insecticide.

The effect of four dose of Boron (0, 1, 1/5. 2 ppm) on the growth parameters of Tetranychus urticae Koch was studied on the red Akhtar bean cultivar under constant laboratory conditions (27±2ºC, 70±5%RH and 16L:8D) during 2014–2016. Results showed that the immature developmental times of males and females were significantly influenced by Boron. Tetranychus urticae laid significantly more eggs per day on control. The egg hatching percentage varied from88.25 to 94.20 percent. The minimum intrinsic rate of increase (rm) 0.210±0.01 (female/female/day), while the highest was recorded for 2 ppm tests 0.73±0.2 (female/female/day). The lowest net reproductive rate of female (R0) was observed in 2 ppm dose (4.2.±2/04) while thehighest was in control treatment (12.10±0.06) (female/female/generation). The lowest intrinsic rate of increase (λ) (0.93±1.02) was obtained in 2 ppm treatments, whenever 0 ppm treatment displayed the highest values of these parameters (1.230±1.40). The mean generation time varied from 15.2±0.24 day to 11.65±0.5 days. Doubling time (DT) varied significantly on different tests. The longest was in 2 ppm and the shortest was in control treatment. Therefore, the results have proved that 2 ppm sample has excellent potential for applying in Integrated Pest Management of Tetranychus urticae.

The mortality and repellency effects of essential oils of four plants including Myrtus (Myrtus comminus L.), Lindens (Tilia cordata M.), Stachys (Stachys lavandulifolia V.) and Walnut (Juglans regia L.) leaves against 5th and 6th larval instars and adults of Tribolium confusum Duval (Col.: Tenebrionidae) were studied. The essential oil were obtained by hydrodistillation method, using a modified Clevenger-type apparatus. The bioassay experiments were carried out at 27±1 °C and  65±5 % R.H. in dark condition. in Completely Randomized Design with 5 replications after periods of 24, 48, and 72 hours after exposure to essential oils. The repelling effect of the essential oils was tested under darkness condition using Y-tube Olfactometer. The results showed that the Myrtus comminus essence had mortality effects on all three stages, while the other essences had no mortality effects on the pest at very high concentration of 2174 µL/L air. The LC50 values of Myrtus comminus for adults and 5th and 6th larval instars after 24 hours was 181.505, 400.525 and 383.180 μL/L air and after 48 hours these values were 163.935, 378.153 and 362.569 µL/L air. These values after 72 hours were 153.081, 366.746 and 342.052 µL/L air for adults and 5th and 6th instars larvae, respectively. Analysis of variances of the data related to the repellency effects of the studied essential oils (in two concentration of 1000 and 3000 ppm) showed significant differences between three studied stages  (P < 0.05). The results of this study showed that the susceptibility of adults to the essential oil of Mirtus comminus  was higher than the 5th and 6th instars larvae.

To search for re-cycleable and environment-friendly pesticides the ovicidal and larvicidal effects of nine botanical powders includingChamomile(Chamaemelum nobilis L.),Yarrow(Achillea millefolium L.),Breckland wild thyme(Thymus serpyllum L.), Squaw mint (Mentha pulegium L.), Ferulago angulata (schlechat.) Boiss,Dill(Anethum graveolens L.),True cinnamon(Cinnamomum zeylanicum L.),Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)andginger(Zingiber officinal R.)were tested againstCallosobruchus maculates (Fabricius). The experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design at 30±2 °C and 60±5% relative humidity(RH) under dark conditions. Results showed that all tested plant powders had ovicidal and larvicidal effect on C.maculatus. Based on the results in the concentration of 1 g/100g, plant powders of Z. officinal, O. basilicum, T. serpyllum, C. zeylanicum,M. pulegium and A. millefolium caused 88, 87.55, 86, 84, 82 and 80% egg mortalities, respectively. The results showed that in the concentration of 1 g/100g M. pulegium powder represented the most potent efficient larvicidal agent (95.77%) followed by O. basilicum (90%), C. zeylanicum (90%), T. serpyllum (86%) and A. millefolium (84%). Also results indicated thatpowders of Z. officinal (LC50 = 0.36 g/100g) and M. pulegium (LC50 = 0.30 g/100g) had the highest larvicidal and ovicidal activity against C. maculatus, respectively. It was found that these botanical powders can be used as a cheap and safe pesticide to control storage pests in rural areas.

The genus Bruchophagus Ashmead, 1888 (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) has a worldwide distribution. These small wasps are seed eater of rangelands plants, therefore they are considered as one of the main pests for rangelands. This study was conducted to identify the fauna of this genus in some parts of East-Azarbaijan, Iran. In total, 13 species from different localities have been collected and identified. The identified species include: B. astragali Fedoseeva, 1954; B. bajariae                  (Erdös, 1957); B. colutea (Bouček, 1954); B. evolans Szelényi, 1961; B. gibbus (Boheman, 1836); B. kononovae Zerova, 1994; B. turkestanicus Zerova, 1994; B. macronycis Fedoseeva, 1956; B. mutabilis Nikolskaja, 1952; B. nikolskayae (Zerova, 1968); B. parvulus Zerova, 1994; B. ponticus Zerova, 1994 and B. trigonellae Zerova, 1970. Of which, four species have been reported for the first time in Iran including B. coluteae, B. macronycis, B. parvulus and B. ponticus. Host plants of all collected species were listed and finally a checklist of known species of the genus Bruchophagusin Iranwas presented.

Hippodamia variegata is one of the major predators of crop pests which feed an aphids and psyllids. RAPD is a useful genetically marker to determine polymorphism and relationship among LadyBirds species. The aim of this study was to identify and study the genetic diversity of Hippodamia variegata Goeze (Col.:Coccinellidae)in 9 natural populations and 2 commercial breeding populations. To investigate the genetic diversity of 8 primers, 10 randomized nucleotides (C-15, C-16, C-18, C-19, BE-03, BE-09, B-01, B-06) were used. All primers created clear and repeated bands. Of the 147 bands produced, 82 bands, 55.78 percent, were polymorphic. The length of amplified fragments by all primers varied from 225 to 2000 base pairs. The dendrogram was calculated based on the Jaccard similarity coefficient by UPGMA method. The results of cluster analysis indicated that there was a high genetic difference among the populations studied in Lorestan province. Primer BE-09 (28 bands) produced the highest and primer C-16(13 bands) produced the lowest number of bands. Two populations Dorud and Kuhdasht formed the first cluster close to 0.28 Jaccard coefficient of using UPGMA method. Other clusters formed a very low percentage of similarity. This shows that the susceptibility of the ecology and geography of the province despite the small size establishes and maintains the genetic diversity in the province of the ladybirds. The results of cluster analysis indicated high genetic differences between populations studied in the Lorestan province.

The safflower flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are important pests of safflower (Carthamus tinctorious) in Iran. Larval feeding disrupts plant growth resulting reduction in flower buds. Infestation of bolls began 15 days after the formation of flower heads. In the laboratory study there was no statistical difference in attraction to Biolure® amang the females of Acanthiophilus helianthi Rossi and Chaetrollia carthami. In contrast, Trellia luteolla females were significantly less attracted to the lure. Females of A. helianthi with more than 15 days old were attracted to the Biolure®.