Life History and Population Parameters of Arimania komaroffi Ragonot (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on Different Pistachio Cultivars

Abstract

Pistachio fruit hull borer, Arimania komaroffi (Rogonot) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is a damaging insect pest of pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) cultivars in Iran and some other areas of the world. In this research, A. komaroffi was reared on the fruit hull of different commercial pistachio cultivars (Ahmad Aaghaei, Akbari, Kaleghochi, Momtaz and Ohadi) at 25±2°C, 45±5% R.H. and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L: D) h, and its life history and life table parameters were investigated. To evaluate the development, survival and body weight of pre-adult stages, sixty first instar larvae were reared on the fruit hull of each pistachio cultivar. Also, the weight of shelters made by larvae was measured on each cultivar. After emergence of adults, fecundity (number of eggs deposited), incubation period, and adult longevity were recorded. Based on the obtained results, cultivar Ohadi was unsuitable for population increase of A. komaroffi, because a prolonged immature period and the lowest values of food consumption (FC), larval weight gained (LW), shelter weight (SW), and population growth of the pest were on this cultivar. However, cultivar Momtaz was relatively suitable for this pest, since the shortest immature period, and the highest FC, LW, SW, and population growth were on this cultivar. There were significant positive correlations between SW of larvae and FC, LW and intrinsic rate of increase (rm). Our results showed that Ohadi was relatively resistant, and Momtaz was relatively susceptible cultivars to A. komaroffi development and population increase.