Determination of the appropriate time for crown covering of Ectomyelois pomegranate to control the pomegranate fruit moth,ceratoniae Zeller (Lep.: Pyralidae)

Pomegranate fruit moth (PFM), Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller (Lep.: Pyralidae), is the most important pest of pomegranate in Iran. The larvae of PFM damage pomegranate fruits. One way that may prevent fruits infection is obstruction from laying eggs by the moth inside the fruit crown.In the present study, the effect of crown covering time of pomegranate by fabric net, including different times of covering (2, 4 & 8 weeks after flowering) and number of covering stages on fruit infection rate were cpmpared in Kashmar and Garmsar regions,Iran in 2009. The result showed that the mean percentages of infection were 11.70 in control and 3.50 and 2.80 for two and three stages of crown-covering, respectively. So the two and three stages of crown-covering reduced the fruit damage by 70 and 76%, respectively. Comparison of flower and fruit drop, cover stability and PFM infection indices among the treatments indicated that using two stages crown-covering with a cop made by fabric net, at 4 & 8 weeks after flowering (in early May to early July) can be recommended for PFM control.