A New Record for Mangrove Plume Moth Cenoloba obliteralis (Walker, 1864) (Fam. Tineodidae : Lepidoptera ) Attacking Mangrove Plant in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The first record for Mangrove plume moth Cenoloba obliteralis (Walker) on infested fruit of mangrove Jazan Red Sea coasts, Saudi in March 2016. The larvae of mangrove plume moth C. obliteralis feeding on flowering buds and consumed the cotyledons of fruits. During this study, six sites of mangrove plant were screened for infestation by C. obliteralis through four seasons. We observed that, the flower buds were available at different seasons meanwhile fruits were available in spring and autumn. Female of C. obliteralis was laid eggs at the base of the flower buds as a separate egg, after egg hatching larvae feed on flowers before its open and navigate between the cluster flowers. The infected flowers were diagnostic by presence of larvae feces and holes which made by the larvae. The direct examination of fruits, showing that female was laid eggs on the location of fruits communication per plant. After egg hatching new emergence larvae was enter into fruits and it feeds on the content of cotyledons. The mature larva was exit from the weakest site in the cortex of the fruit (attaching site of both cotyledons). No more than a larva watched inside the fruit as well as no cocoon seen inside the fruit.