Flying Activity and Seasonal Abundance of Carob Moth Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller and its Population Dynamics on Different Hosts in Lattakia, Syria

Abstract

Arab, A., E. Al-Jouri, I. Okasha, D. Fayoud, R. Yousef and N. El-Ali. 2022. Flying Activity and Seasonal Abundance of Carob Moth Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller and its Population Dynamics on Different Hosts in Lattakia, Syria. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 40(3): 201-208. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-40.3.201208 The carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller, is an important frugivorous pest worldwide. A study was carried out on pomegranate, citrus orchards and carob sites in Lattakia governorate during 2013-2014 to monitor the flying activity and seasonal abundance of the carob moth using synthetic pheromone traps (Russell IPM). The population dynamics of carob moth on pomegranate and navel orange fruits and carob pods were estimated. The results showed that the flying activity was between late March and early December. The highest monthly abundance of the insect was in June, in both years. The results also showed a medium significant correlation between temperature and insect flight activity and weekly catch rate, whereas the correlation with relative humidity was not significant. The highest infestation rate with carob moth was 40% on pomegranate, 37% on carob and 7% on navel orange in September 2013, whereas it was 36% on pomegranates, 30% on carob and 4% on navel oranges in September 2014. Keywords: Carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae, seasonal abundance, pomegranate, orange, carob