فصلنامه تحقیقات حشره شناسی
سال دوم شماره 4 (پیاپی 8، زمستان 1389)

Bruchidius fulvus Allard. is a biological control agent of camelthorn weed (Alhagi camelorumFisch.) in Birjand region, South Khorasan province, Iran. The beetle has been able to reduce seed production and consequently prevented more spread of this noxious weed in the region. In order to use the beetle to control the weed, the host preference of B. fulvus was studied under laboratory condition (25±1°C, 65±5% R.H and darkness). The experiments was carried out in completely randomized design with 10 replications using the seeds of camelthorn and 6 other plant species from Fabaceae family including Phaseolus vulgaris L., Cicer arientinum L., Lathyrus sativus L., Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Sophora alopecuroides L. and Vicia villosa Roth. Results showed that the most number of eggs was respectively laid on A. camelorum, Ph. vulgaris, C. arietinum, L. sativus and V. villosa seeds. However, the larvae on plant species other than the camelthorn did notsurvive. It seems that B. fulvus is a monophagous species and can be used as a seed feeder agent of camel thorn in the region. However, further studies are essential to find out whether it is a specialist or not.

The Angoumoise grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier), is a polyphagous and cosmopolitan species. This pest is distributed in Iran and all over the world. In this research, the effect of UVirradiation was investigated on the biological parameters of S. cerealella. The 1, 2 and 3-days-old eggs were exposed to UV-irradiation (254 nm wavelength) for 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 4 minutes at temperature of 27±3ºC, a photoperiod of 10: 14 (L: D) and 60±5% relative humidity. The results indicated that all exposure periods of UV-irradiation reduced percentage of hatching eggs. An increase in time of exposure to irradiation caused a gradual decrease in percentage of hatching in all age groups of eggs. It was observed that 2 and 3-days-old of S. cerealella eggs were moresensitive to UV-irradiation than 1-day-old eggs. Percentage of hatching eggs was 88.33% in control. However, hatching were inhibited up to 35.83, 3.33 and 18.33, respectively by 4 min exposure of 1, 2 and 3-days-old eggs of S. cerealella to UV-irradiation. At 2 and 3-days-old eggs, all exposure periods of UV-radiation increased significantly the incubation period of eggs of males and females in comparison to control. Adult longevity of females originating from 2 and 3 days-old treated eggs decreased significantly in comparison to control. However, in all age groups of eggs, no significant difference was observed between adult longevity of males in treated eggs and control.

Pomegranate Punica granatum (Punicaceae) is one of the most important orchard products in Iran. The most important pest of the fruit is Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zell (Lep., Pyrallidae) that injured up to 80% of fruits. For controlling this pest three methods are used as: cutting off the stamens of pomegranate (the site of moth oviposition), biological control by releasing Trichogramma embryophagum Hartig (parasitoid of eggs)and using a combination of the two methods. The study was included four treatments as cutting off the stamens of pomegranate, biological control by releasing T. embryophagum, using two methods together and control. cutting off the stamens of pomegranate has done twice and releasing of Trichogramma 10 times with 10 days intervals from late Khordad. Twenty five trees from each garden were selected randomly at the harvesting time and percentage of infestation on each tree was calculated. The results showed significant difference between treatments. Comparison between treatments showed that the combination of cutting off the stamens and releasing wasps had the highest efficacy. that cutting off the stamens of pomegranate and finally releasing wasps for controlling this pest. Study economical aspects of three methods showed that releasing wasps method had the lowest and cutting off the stamens of pomegranate and releasing wasps together method had the highest expenses for control this pest but considering results of this study and efficacy of cutting off the stamens of pomegranate, it is recommended to use for controlling this pest in Saveh region.

Wheat as the most important crop in Kurdistan province has several pests including aphids.The coccinellids have a fundamental role in controlling aphids. In this research, cereal aphidspecies and their coccinellid predators were identified and the efficiency and populationdynamics of the most abundant species of coccinellids were studied during 2001-2003. Three irrigated wheat fields in Dehgolan and Kamyaran, and one rain fed field in Marivan were selected. Samples were taken weekly and the aphid species were counted in laboratory and the occurrence frequency of each species was recorded. Adult coccinellids were collected by random sweep netting and their relative occurrence was recorded. As results, 7 aphid species were identified which Sitobion avenae F. and Schizaphis graminum Rond. with respectively 66.5 and 30%, have the highest population densities. Also 6 coccinellid species were identified which Hippodamia variegata Goeze and Coccinella septempunctata L. with respectively 60 and 37%, have the highest population densities. Results showed that H. variegata as the most abundant coccinellid species in wheat fields was not able to control the aphids significantly (under this experimental condition) due to very fast reproduction of aphids and in absence of other natural enemies. Therefore, cereal aphids can be controlled by the presence and activities of their natural enemies complex.

The pod borer Heliothis viriplaca Hufn is one of the most serious pest of chickpea in the west of Iran. In this research the effect of Carbaryl, Diflubenzuron and Bacillus thuringiensis var. independently and in different combinations were tested against Helicoverpa viriplaca Hufn. in the field. Experiments were conducted at randomized block design. No significant different was observad between Bt, mixture of Carbaryl and Diflubenzuron, mixture of Carbaryl and Bt, mixture of Carbaryl, Diflubenzuron,Bt and Carbaryl treatments (p 0.01). All 7 treatments were effective on the number of damaged pods, yield and 1000 seed weight. The non sprayed blocks had the highest percentage of damage (30%). The minimum amount of yield was obtained in treatment of Diflubenzuron (922 kg/ha) and checks (with mean 911.42 kg/h), the highest weight of 1000 seeds with 361.07 and 364.6 g from other treatments, respectively. These results showed that treatments had significant effect in the first 24 hours after spraying to control the pest and increase the yield. Although Carbaryl and mixture of Carbaryl and Diflubenzuron, had high mortality on the pest after 24 hours, no significant effect on the yield increase was observad.

One of the most promising alternatives to synthetic insecticides for the control of stored product pests is diatomaceous earth (DE). Laboratory studies were performed to evaluate the insecticidal effects of Iranian formulation of DE (Sayan®)on adults of confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum du Val (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae), at 27±1 °C and 55±5 % RH in dark. Experiments for bioassay & adult emergence evaluation, were carried out with 5 concentrations (50, 80, 126, 200 and 315 ppm (mg DE/kg wheat)) and 7 concentrations (0, 50, 80, 126, 200, 315 and 500 ppm), respectively, with 8 replications. The results showed that the concentration 315 ppm of DE hadacceptable effects on T. confusum mortality after 14 days. After 14 days, the LC50 of DE for T. confusum adults was estimated 183 ppm. There was a significant difference between DE-treated and untreated wheat for progeny survinal, as DE killed the newly emerged beetles. As time went by, DE stability and efficiency were constant. As a result, Iranian formulation of diatomaceous earth (Sayan®) can be used to protect grains against T. confusum adults.

The faunistic study of Pentatomid bugs was carried out in west Azarbaijan province. during2002-2003 Totally 35 species belonging to 22 genera from Pentatominae and Podopinaesubfamilies were collected that genus Trochiscocoris Reuter and two species Bagrada confuse Hv. and Trochiscocoris hemipterus (Jakovlev) are new records from Iran. All species were identified based on male genitalia and some other morphological characters.Following is the scientific names of the identified species. The new records for Iran showed by one asterisk.

Diversity and abundance of plant feeding mites on green parts and soil of tea plant gardens were investigated in 15 localities during period of 2008-2009 in Eastern part of Gilan Provinces of Iran. Mites were collected from tea leaves and stems by shaking on white tray and from depth of 5 centimeters of soil with in Tullgren apparatus individually for each localities. 36 species from 33 genera and 31 families included in four suborders, Astigmata, Cryptostigmata, Prostigmata and Mesostigmata were identified. Higher and lower abundance of injurious mite were recorded for Brevipalpus obovatus and Tyrophagus putrescentiae, Tuckerella hypoterra, Tetranychus urticae respectively whereas, maximum predacious mites were recorded in Bdellidae, Phytoseiidae and 15 Oribatidae species of Two oribatid mites species, Pergalumna sp, Eupelops sp. with highest densities and Metabelba sp, along with two unidentified oribatid mites belong to Phthiracaridae and Euphthiracaridae families recorded with number of mite specimens in surveyed localities. Oribatid mite constituted 41% of mite species diversities with total 59% of mite collections. Four oribatid mite families picked up from leaves and stem of tea plants only. Out of mite collected, 81% are new record for mite fauna of tea garden in Iran. Mite identification are as follows: Acaridae (Tyrophagus putrescentiae), Ameroseiidae (Ameroseius sp.), Digamasellidae (Dendrolaelaps sp.),Ologamasidae (Gamaseiphis sp.) Pachylaelapidae (Pachyseius sp.), Parasitidae (Vulgrogamasus sp.), Phytoseiidae(Amblyseius largoensis, Iphiseius sp., Typhlodromips caspiansis) Achipteriidae (Parachipteria sp.) Cepheidae (Conoppia sp.) Camisiidae (Camisia sp.), Nothridae (not identified)Ceratozetidae (Trichoribates sp.), Humerobatidae (Humerobates sp.), Damaeidae (Metabelba sp.), Galumnidae (Pergalumna sp.), Liacaridae (Liacarus sp.), Oribatulidae (not identified), Scheloribatidae (Scheloribates sp.), Oppiidae (Oppia sp.), Phenopelopidae (Eupelops sp.), Phthiracaridae and Euphthiracaridae (not identified), Anystidae (Chaussieria warrengense, Chaussieria sp.), Bdellidae (Bdella sp., Cyta sp.), Camerobidiidae (Tycherobius sp.), Erythraeidae (Leptus sp.), Eupodidae (Cocceupodes sp.), Tenuipalpidae (38Brevipalpus obovatus), Tetranychidae (Tetranychus urticae), Microtrombidiidae (Microtrombidinae), Trombidiidae (Dinothrombium sp.), Tuckerellidae (Tuckerella hypoterra).