نشریه نامه انجمن حشره شناسی ایران
سال چهلم شماره 1 (پیاپی 81، بهار 1399)

The Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, 1879 (Lep.: Pyralidae) is a polyphagous pest that its eggs and larvae are used to rear some important biological control agents. In this study, the effect of three photoperiods including complete darkness, complete lightness and 14:10 (L:D) on life table parameters of E. kuehniella investigated, using diet containing a mixture of wheat flour (68%), wheat bran (29%) and 3% yeast was tested at temperature 25 ± 1°C and 65±5% RH. The results show that the intrinsic rate of increase (rm), finite rate of population increase (λ), the net reproductive rate (R0) and the mean generation time (T) in full darkness were 0.10 day-1, 1.116 day-1, 157.06 offspring and 45.98 days, respectively. Also, these mentioned parameters for full lightness and 14:10 (L:D) were 0.083 day-1, 1.087 day-1, 64.72 offspring ,49.73 days and 0.11 day-1, 1.117 day-1, 141.26 offspring, 44.59 days, respectively. The values of the intrinsic rate of increase (rm), finite rate of population increase (λ), the net reproductive rate (R0) and the mean generation time (T) in the photoperiod of 14:10 (L:D) were significantly shorter than those of other treatments. The results indicated that changing in photoperiod has noticable effect on life table parameters of Mediterranean flour moth and should be considered for mass rearing of this moth.

The cowpea seed beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus is one of the most destructive pests of pulses including chickpea. In this research, the effect of chickpea landraces including Abgoshtiriz bokan, Etiopi, Khardar bokan, Zard kordestan, Siah alashtar, Lablaboei arzhantin, Lablaboei bokan, Lablaboei canadaei and Lablaboei hendi, and Abijam Kermanshah cultivar were studied on population parameters of C. maculatus under laboratory conditions (28±2°C temperature, 65±5% RH, and a photoperiod of 14 L: 10 D h). Moreover, some physical and biochemical characteristics of chickpea seeds were measured and any possible correlations between them and life table parameters were investigated. According to the results, the longest larval and pupal periods and total development time of C.maculatus were on Siah alashtar landrace and the shortest one was on Lablaboei bokan landrace. The higher and lower values of net reproductive rate (R0) were observed on Lablaboei hendi (30.33 ± 3.51 offspring/individual) and Siah alashtar landraces (19.28 ± 2.71 offspring/individual), respectively. The lowest value of intrinsic rate of increase (r) of C.maculatus was observed on Siah alashtar landrace (0.079 ± 0.040 day-1) and the highest was on Lablaboei bokan landrace (0.110 ± 0.044 day-1). The highest grain hardiness index and protein content were on Siah alashtar landrace, whereas the lowest these characteristics were on Lablaboei bokan and Abijam Kermanshah. Significant correlations were observed between life history parameters and physical and biochemical traits of chickpea landraces. Our findings showed that Siah alashtar is a relatively unsuitable and Lablaboei bokan is a suitable and relatively sensitive host for feeding of C.maculatus.

Leopard moth, Zeuzera pyrina L. is one of the most important wood borers which causes heavy damage on walnut in different parts of Iran, especially in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province. In this research, efficiency of two pheromones (Synanthedon tipuliformis Clerkand Z. pyrina), two forms of pheromone traps (Delta and Funnel) and five installing height (4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 m above the ground), to catch male leopard moths were studied. Pheromone traps were installed in the walnut orchards at the second decade of May (before the adult emergence). Number of caught moth were recorded weekly and finally mean number of caught moths per trap were compared statistically among treatments. Results showed significant difference between pheromones and the pheromone of Z. pyrina was captured more number of the moths, whereas there was no significantly difference between traps (delta and funnel traps). Results of both years of the experiment showed installing height had a significant effect on the capturing of the male moths, and with increasing the height of installation, number of captured moths increased significantly. Mean number of caught moths per week were 1.38, 2.43, 7.77, 10.68 and 16.17 at the height of 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 meters, respectively. In other words, the number of caught moths at the heights of 12 and 6 meters (above ground level) were11.6 and 6.59 folded of the 4 meter height, respectively. Based on the obtained results, trap form and installation height of the traps have significant effect on number of the caught leopard male moths by pheromone traps.

Oryctes elegans Perll is one of the most important pests of date palm trees. The present study was done to determine the probable role of this pest as a vector of Fusarium wilt disease in date orchards of Khuzestan province. Leaf wilt disease is one of the important diseases observed in date orchards of Khuzestan. Sampling was carried out from 24 date orchards in Abadan, Khorramshahr and Shadegan, which showed simultaneous infestation by O. elegans and fungal leaf wilt diseases. The collected samples included larvae and beetles of the date palm borer, leaves, petioles and fruit bunches of the tress. Fusarium proliferatum Matsush was isolated from collected samples with different percentages. To determine the disease transferring ability of the beetles, the experiments were carried out based on randomized complete design experiment with factorial test. Four densities; 3, 5, 7 and 9 of the beetles and four concentrations of the fungal suspensions 5×103, 5×104, 5×105 and 5×106 spores per ml were used. The frequency of isolated fungi from the insect specimens and plant materials confirmed transmission of fungus by the date palm borer. The results showed a positive and significant correlation between infested trees with Fusarium wilt disease and date palm borer. The pathogenicity test showed that insects in all four densities and all four concentrations were able to transfer the fungus and disease and in the densities of 7 beetles with 5×106 spores per ml and 9 beetles with 5×105 and 5×106 spores per ml caused drying of offshoots.

Stethorus gilvifrons is considered as one of the most important predators of the spider mites. Current study was conducted to examine the effect of temperature on life table parameters of the predatory coccinellid, S. gilvifronsMulstant. The predatory coccinellids were originally collected from sugarcane fields of Khuzestan province and were reared on infected maize plants by Tetranychus urticae Koch at 15, 20, 25, 27, 30 and 34 ± 0.5 ̊C, %60±5 RH and a photoperiod of 16:8(L:D) h. in growth chamber. All of the cohort individuals were died at 38 ̊C. The obtained results showed that temperature significantly affected all developmental time and population growth parameters of the predator. Developmental time of S. gilvifrons decreased with increasing temperatures from 15 ̊C to 34 ̊C. The lowest and highest values of intrinsic rate of increase (r) were 0.0003 (day-1) at 15 ̊C and 0.2052 (day-1) at 34 ̊C, respectively. The values of net reproductive rate (R0) were 1.025, 19.021, 38.58, 43.61, 68.61 and 70.05 (offspring) at 15, 20, 25, 27, 30 and 34 ̊C, respectively. The highest value for total fecundity was 249.52 (offspring) at 30 ̊C. The shortest and longest female longevity were 18.13 and 30.68 (days) at 34 and 25 ̊C, respectively. Mean generation time decreased with increasing temperatures, and the least value was estimated at 34 ̊C. The highest values of gross reproductive rate (GRR) were 283.43 (offspring) at 27 ̊C. Also, the values of finite rate of increase (λ) were 1.0003, 1.050, 1.117, 1.155, 1.182 and 1.227 (day-1) respectively at above mentioned temperatures. The results can be used for biological control of the spider mites and developing a mass rearing system for S. gilvifrons.

Biological characteristics and feeding rate of Episyrphus balteatus on Nasonovia ribisnigri as an economically important pest of lettuce were evaluated at four constant temperatures (15, 20, 25 and 30 ± 1°C), 65 ± 5% RH and a photoperiod of 16L: 8D h. Results showed that the developmental time of the incubation period (egg), first and third instars larvae and pupae of E. balteatus significantly decreased with increasing temperature. Moreover, the duration of developmental time (total immature stages) of this predator decreased with increasing temperature from 24.43 days at 15°C to 13.94 days at 30°C. The feeding rate of E. balteatus was effected by larval instars and temperatures. The 24-hour feeding rate of total larval instars of the predator were 11.48, 13.9, 11.97 and 9.32 nymphs / larva at examined temperatures, respectively.There were no significant differences regarding the developmental time and 24-hour feeding rate of the second larval instar at studied temperatures. The least mortality rate and the greatest 24-hour feeding rate were 12% and 11.6±0.62 third instar nymphs of N. ribisnigri / larva, respectively, in third instar larvae of E. balteatus at 20°C. According to the obtained results and considering high feeding rate of E. balteatus especially at 20°C, seems this predator can be considered as one of the suitable elements for the integrated pest management program of currant lettuce aphid.

The genus Muscina Robineau-Desvoidy is represented by five species, in the Palaearctic region, of which the four species Muscina levida (Harris), M. pascuorum (Meigen), M. prolapsa (Harris) and M. stabulans (Fallén) are collected through this study. The two species M. pascuorum and M. prolapsa are newly reported from Iran. A key to the Iranian known species and their distribution as well as images of habitus, wings and male genitalia of three species are presented.

Prosopis juliflora is a shrub belonging to the family Fabaceae. It is native to Mexico, South America and the Caribbean. It has become established as an invasive weed in Africa, Asia, Australia and elsewhere. P. juliflora is located in Sahara-Sindian climatic region as a resistant species against the salinity. Its habitats in Iran are limited to Hormozgan and Sistan and Balochestan provinces. Algarobius prosopis (LeConte) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is reported for the first time as a seed beetle from the collected pods and seeds of P. juliflora from Hormozgan province.