Effects of pyriproxyfen on some physiological aspects of the pistachio fruit hull borer, Arimania comaroffi Ragonot, pupae

Abstract

The pistachio fruit hull borer, Arimania comaroffi (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is one of the minor pests of pistachio orchards. This pest passes the winter as pupae in silken cocoons in soil beside pistachio trees. In this study, effects of insect growth regulator pyriproxyfen were investigated on some physiological aspects of the pest by measuring glycogen, total sugar, lipid, protein, low-molecular-weight carbohydrates (trehalose and glucose) and polyols (sorbitol and myo-inositol) contents of the pupal body. Last larval instar was treated with 1 μl of the pesticide, and the effects on pupae were measured after one week. Glycogen content in treatment with 3.11 mg/g fresh body weight was significantly different from control with 8.51 mg/g fresh body weight, but no significant differences in protein and lipid contents (p > 0.05) were observed. Glucose content in treated pupae with 1.50 mg/g fresh body weight was significantly different from control with 2.99 mg/g fresh body weight. Trehalose and sorbitol contents in treated pupae with 0.52 and 0.04 mg/g fresh body weight, respectively, were significantly lower than control with 2.07 and 1.5 mg/g fresh body weight, while there were no significant differences in glucose and myo-inositol contents between treated and control pupae.