فصلنامه تحقیقات آفات گیاهی
سال سیزدهم شماره 1 (بهار 1402)

In this study, the predatory mite Blattisocius mali was evaluated as a candidate predator for the biological control of fungus gnat, Lycoriella auripila in mushroom cultivation salons and greenhouses and its biological characteristics and population parameters were investigated under laboratory conditions at 25 °C, 70±5 % relative humidity and 16:8 h (L:D) photoperiod. The mean of the total pre-adult period in this experiment was 4.45 days and the lifespan of male and female adults was 18.45 and 20.46 days, respectively. The mean of the oviposition days was 13.88 days and the fecundity was 90.96 (eggs/female). Also, the predatory mite, B. mali feeding on the eggs of the L. auripila had a significant intrinsic rate of population increase (r) equal to 0.386 day-1 and its population increased about 44.551 times every 9.882 days. The results of this study showed the B. mali is a potential predator that can grow and reproduce and complete its life cycle fed on the eggs of L. auripila, successfully. Therefore, this predator can act as a suitable and safe biological control agent to reduce the fungus gnat population and be considered as a biological control agent in the integrated control of this pest.

The Pseudomonas bacteria include many species with different characteristics. Some species of the genus are considered as the plant growth stimulants. Recently, the potentials of the bacteria to insect pest control has been documented. In this study, the lethal effects of three strains, Pseudomonas protegens CHA0, P. soli VF16, and P. persica VKh13 to eggs and larvae of Anagasta keuhniella (Zeller) (Lep., Pyralidae) as an important stored product pest was studied. For this purpose, two concentrations of each strain, 0.2 and 0.5 OD at the wavelength of light of 600 nm, were provided and the 5th instar larvae and eggs of A. keuhniella were treated and the mortalities were recorded after 24h. Statistical investigations indicated that the strain P. protogens CHA has the highest mortality rate (79.16%) and after that, the strain P. soli VF16 (64.15%). Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the strain P. persica VKh13 has not the insecticidal property. The bacterial efficacy at suspension concentration 0.5 OD was significantly more than 0.2 OD. No significant difference was observed between susceptibility of the pest larva and eggs to different investigated strains in the study. The highest mortality was observed in application of the concentration 0.5 OD of P. protogens CHA on the pest larvae. Olfactory trials indicated that the female parasitoid wasps, Habrabracon hebetor, significantly avoided from treated larvae by all of the three strains. The results can be used for developing the microbial control of the pest.

Two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, is a serious pest for many agricultural crops. Use of effective pesticides and release of biological control agents are common methods in integrated pest management programs. In the present research, effect of different concentrations of Ebron Speed® and Kane Mite® on mortality of two-spotted spider mite and number of predatory mites Phytoseiulus persimilis and Amblyseius swirskii were investigated in laboratory conditions. LC50 values of Ebron speed® and Kane Mite® were calculated for egg stage of this pest as 252.47 and 1564.10 ppm, and for protonymph stage, as 207.17 and 1120.00 ppm, respectively. Therefore, results of this study showed that egg is more resistant stage than protonymph stage. Time required for 50% lethality (LT50) of Ebron Speed® and Kane Mite® on protonymph stage as 22.984 and 25.097 hours were calculated, respectively. The highest amount of feeding on eggs and protonymph stages infected with acaricides after 48 hours from time of spraying in predator mite P. persimilis was observed. According to results, use of Ebron Speed® and release of P. persimilis predator after 48 hours are recommended in the integrated pest management programs of this pest.

Tomato leafminer is one of the most important pests of this crop in Iran. The objective of this study was to introduce and replace new insecticides and to increase the range of effective insecticides in pest control. The experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with five treatments in two tomato greenhouses in Ardabil and West Azarbaijan provinces. The experimental treatments included two doses of Chlorantraniliprole, (0.2 g/lit and 0.15g/lit) Flubendiamide (0.3/1000 g/lit), Indoxacarb (0.3/1000ml/lit) and Control. The live larvae were sampled before and after spraying. Ten days after the last sampling, 20 fruits were randomly selected from each replicate and the percentage of infected tomato fruit was determined. Additionally, the side effects of Chlorantraniliprole on the parasitoid wasp Trichogramma brassicae were investigated in laboratory conditions. The results showed that the treatment of Chlorantraniliprole 0.2/1000, fourteen days after spraying in West Azarbaijan province with 84.44% and in Ardabil province with 88.25% efficiency was most effective in controlling tomato leafminer. In the two provinces of West Azarbaijan and Ardabil, Chlorantraniliprole 0.2/1000 1, with 1.66 and 10.00 percent, respectively, had the lowest number of infected fruits among the treatments. Moreover, the application of Chlorantraniliprole at 0.2 /1000 and 0.15 /1000 reduced the emergence of adult Trichogramma parasitoids by 49.87 ± 4.3% and 21.27 ± 2.4%, respectively, compared with the control. According to the obtained results Chlorantraniliprole at 0.15 /1000 is recommended for use in the management programs of this pest.

Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata Wied (Diptera: Tephritidae) is one of the most important and dangerous pests of fruit trees in different countries including Iran. This study was conducted with the aim of comparing the effectiveness of some attractants and traps in mass trapping of Mediterranean fruit flies in Mazandaran province, Sari city, in 2020. The experiment was conducted in the form of a randomized complete block design with 5 treatments in two orchards, Nectarine and Tangerine. The number of fruit fly insects caught in the trap separately by gender (male and female) and non-target insects was counted and recorded weekly from the time of installation of the traps until the end of the installation (from July to December). According to the results, in both orchards, trimedlure sexual attractants and feeding attractants were preferred in attracting male and female fruit flies, respectively. In total, both male and female sexes, the highest and lowest number of trapping belonged to trimedlure and sticky yellow card treatments, respectively. The effect of temperature on the Mediterranean fruit fly population in tangerine orchard was significant, so that the noticeable decrease in temperature in December caused a significant decrease in fly hunting in this month. Non-target insects were more attracted and captured by ceratrap and biolure food attractants. In general, Mcphil trap with trimedlure had the maximum captured of male flies. For capturing female flies, by reducing the number of ceratrap and biolure traps in order to attract less number of non-target insects, more traps can be allocating to ceratinex attractor in orchard.

In the spring of 2023, a severe damage of eriophyid mites was observed on the privet shrubs in Rasht city, Iran. The damage symptoms include deformity of terminal buds, browning of leaves, rusting of leaves surface, severe leaf twisting, spooning of leaves, and reducing of plant growth. So far, two species of eriophyid mites associated with privet shrubs, namely Aculus ligustri (Keifer) and Aceria ligustri (Keifer) have been reported from Guilan province, Northern Iran. In the recent survey, it was found that both species are present together on the hedge privet and cause similar damage. These eriophyid mites damage to two abundant species of privet in Guilan province, including common or hedge privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium) and local privet or Mandarche (Ligustrum vulgare). These mites overwinter in the form of deutogyne female inside the buds of privet and lay eggs in the buds at the end of winter, then spring form of mites or protogynes are transferred to the leaves. The activity of the mite on privet starts from early spring and continues until summer. In order to control mites damage, it needs to apply the necessary control measures in early spring at the same time that mites move from buds to leaves, otherwise, the severe mite damage occurs in form of deformity and plant growth decrease, especially in privet hedge shrubs.

The carob moth (CM) is the key pest of pomegranate fruit in Iran, and it causes damages up to 45% on the pomegranate yield in both the field and storage stages. In the present study, control of CM was investigated by integrating the control methods in two different provinces, Isfahan (Shahreza county) and Qom (Jafarabad county) during 2021-2022. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with two treatments, including integrated control of CM and check (without any control operation) in 4 replications. Integrated control treatment included two stages of stamen elimination of the flowers in June (the first and second half), four times spraying of Sepidan processed kaolin with 5% concentration (the middle of June, July, August and September), two times of collecting infested fruits (end of June and August) and maintaining the green cover of orchard. The results showed that infestation was decreased 51.0% and 61.7% in Isfahan and Qom compared with control respectively. In addition, the yield was increased 119.8% (3.69 kg/tree) and 34.15% (3.73 kg/tree) in Isfahan and Qom compared with control respectively. By integrating the control methods, a profit equivalent to 5 times more than the costs were obtained. The findings of the present study indicated that the integrated management of CM would results in desirable economic, social and environmental outcomes.