ebrahim azizkhani

Prosopis cineraria Druce, belonging to Leguminosae family, is a native plant in Bushehr province.   The seeds and pods of this plant are severely attacked by Caryedon serratus Olivier, and it is of utmost importance since the regeneration of this plant is through seeds. The integrated pest management of C. serratus, emphasizing the bioecology, natural enemies, and seed treatment with common pesticides of Confidor, Sevin and Phosphotoxin, was investigated in Bushehr province. The average length of oviposition period, larvae, and pupa was calculated to be 6.5, 24.5 and 10.5 days, respectively. The total period of life cycle from egg to adult was 42.5 days on average, and the number of pest generations was determined to be 5 to 6 generations per year. The predators like Carabidae beetles and ants feed larvae and pest eggs, respectively. The disinfection of seeds with Phosphotoxin insecticide showed the highest larval mortality rate (92.5%). For pest management, rapid collection of seeds and transfer to the storage at the time of arrival and pods fall, as well as disinfection of seeds with Phosphotoxin in storage areas is proposed.

Pales murina Mes. (Tachinidae) which is parasitoid of Jujube Lappet moth Streblote siva (Lefebvre) (Lasiocampidae) in south of Iran, deposits numerous very small eggs (microtype) on the foliages of their caterpillar hosts. Parasitization is successful when the S. siva larva swallow the eggs. To increase parasitization some factors are involved: choosing suitable plants, laying their eggs near the hosts, ingesting eggs by caterpillar host. The behavioral responses of P. murina were investigated to odors from its host and hosts plants infested with the fly’s host, S. siva, in an olfactometer and wind tunnel. It was studied to determine the factors which effect on orientation, searching and host-finding. In this way, they can be detected more readily than volatile cues emitted from herbivores, Semiochemicals infested plants (Conocarpus erectus and Calotropis procera) and frass. Results of olfactometer showed a significantly higher rate of landing of P. murina on caterpillar infested Conocarpus erectus than on rest (χ2=12.019, P=0.007, df=3). Also differences were detected between treatments fresh frass with the rests (χ2=9.940, P=.019, df=3). Results of bioassay of wind tunnel showed that there was significant difference between caterpillar infested and mechanically wounded C. erectus (χ2=14.40, df=1, P=0.000), caterpillar infested C. erectus vs. C. procera (χ2=18.667, df=1, P=0.000) and fresh frass vs. sand (χ2=4.90, df=1, P=0.027). The results show that P. murina exploits a different host- finding strategy to make use of specific Semiochemicals coming from suitable plant–herbivore interaction as odors and fresh frass of host in order to increase their parasitization success.

The country's need to the cellulosic resources is constantly increasing, and currently according to a very small area of northern forests and restrictions on timber harvesting, meeting the needs through domestic resources is not possible. Therefore, wood imports are inevitable to protect the country's forests as well as meeting the domestic requirements. On the other hand, importation is always subjected to great risk of quarantine pests and diseases. These destructive agents with infected woods are transferred from one country to another and, in the event of the establishment, can cause heavy damage to the forests in the country of destination. Currently, more than half of the country's need to wood is supplied from Russia. Despite health certificate, the timber cargoes have lots of quarantine pests and pathogens. With the continuing entry of this group of pests and diseases, the possibility of their establishment in northern forests is not unexpected. Therefore, study and introduction of these harmful agents, control methods, and also risk assessment of their establishment can play an important role in providing proper solutions for the low risk importation of wood.

Streblo tesiva (Lefebvre) (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) is one of the important potential pest as a defoliator on Acacia ampliceps, Ziziphus spp. and Conocarpus erectus of ornamental and forest communities in south of Iran. Temperature-dependent development of the egg, larval, and pupal life-stages of S. siva was investigated at four constant temperatures of 15.0, 20.0, 25.0 and 30.0˚C using data collected from constant-temperature laboratory experiments under controlled conditions (65±5% RH, 12L: 12D). Data were adjusted to the linear degree-day model and Ikemoto and Takai model to describe the effect of different temperatures on the developmental rate of the life-stages. The results showed the average hatching time was 19.52±0.49 and 6.34±0.20 days at 15 and 30 ˚C, respectively. The duration of each stage decreased with increasing in the temperature up to 30 °C, so that when the temperature was rose up from 15 to 30˚C, the average larval development times decreased from 119.43±3.46 to 36.52±0.70 days. The pupal period development time ranged from 37.07±0.88 to 9.32±0.28 days at 15 and 30˚C respectively. The egg-to-adult development time took place in the range from about 176.30±3.58 until 52.12±0.71 days. The developmental thresholds for egg, larval, pupa and egg-to-adult stage development were 8.97, 7.77, 12.20 and 8.59˚C in liner general model and 9.24, 10.34, 11.12 and 10.48˚C in Ikemoto and Takai model, respectively. According to the linear model, the thermal constant was 1023.54±34.57 degree days, and 920.86±22.59 degree days in liner general and Ikemoto and Takai models respectively

Sweet prickly pear Opuntiaficus-indica (L.) Mill. is recognized as an ideal crop for arid and semi-arid areas. Presently, prevailing drought has resulted in a significant reduction in forage production. Thus, great potential for reviving range areas has put the plant in the center of interests. This plant is not native to Iran, so the pests affecting on it should be checked closely in the developmental programs. In this regard, a survey was conducted to monitor all pests associated with the cacti planted in three provinces of Kermanshah, Ilam and Bushehr. The survey covered field observations of pest occurrences as well as collecting infected or suspected samples. Based on the results, a diverse group of pests include snail Helix (Helicella) Krynickii Krynicki, 1833, termite Microceroter mesbuettikeri Chhotani& Bose and wasp Vespa orientalis attacked the crop across the provinces. Each of the three pest species are being reported for the first time on the Opuntiaficus-indica.