Carob Moth Research Articles

Is sterile insect technique’s efficiency affected by pomegranate variety in mixed cultivars? New insights from a case study on the carob moth, Apomyelois ceratoniae Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Iran

Carob moth, Apomyelois ceratoniae Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is the most important pest of pomegranates in Iran. In this research, performance of the sterile insect technique (SIT) in the management of this pest was evaluated considering crop variety resistance. Rearing of the moth is carried out under constant environmental conditions and 3–4-day-old pupae were gamma-irradiated at 165 Gy. After cyclic releasing of the sterile moths, carob moth infestation decreased under SIT treatment (F1,81 = 32.48, p < 0.0001) in both susceptible (Aalak) and non-susceptible (Malas) pomegranate varieties. Our results indicated satisfying different declines in the pest infestation as 2.97 and 2.07 times on Malas and Aalak varieties, respectively (F1,81 = 6.56, p = 0.012). However, SIT was 1.43 times more successful on non-susceptible pomegranate variety than susceptible one in terms of crop injury. SIT efficiency is not only density dependent, but also dependent on crop variety and this finding leads us to consider crop resistance to insects in planning area-wide integrated pest management programmes based on sterile insect technique in future.

Field Attraction of Carob Moth to Host Plants and Conspecific Females.

The carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller; Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is a devastating pest in high-value crops around the world. An efficient sex pheromone attractant is still missing for the management of this pest, because the major pheromone component is unstable. Host plant volatiles attract herbivore insects and have shown to have good potential to be exploited as alternatives or supplements to sex pheromones. To explore this possibility in carob moth, we assessed the attraction of moths to the volatiles of mature pistachio and different fruit stages of pomegranate, alone and in combination with virgin females, using sticky delta traps in pomegranate orchards of Iran. Traps baited with mature pomegranates, whether uncracked or cracked, infested or uninfested, caught significantly larger numbers of male and both mated and virgin female carob moths than unbaited traps. Traps baited with headspace extract of cracked pomegranate only caught mated females, while mature pistachio only attracted males. Pomegranate flowers, unripe pomegranate, and headspace extract of pistachio did not attract moths. Traps baited with cracked fruit caught more mated females than traps baited with uncracked fruit. Males were attracted similarly to traps baited with cracked-infested pomegranate as to traps baited with virgin females alone. Interestingly, the combination of cracked pomegranate and virgin female enhanced the attraction of virgin females. Together, our results show that volatiles from cracked pomegranates alone or in combination with female sex pheromone have great potential for application in pest management programs of carob moth.

Gamma irradiation of the carob or date moth Ectomyelois ceratoniae: dose–response effects on egg hatch, fecundity, and survival

AbstractThe dose–response effects of gamma radiation on the carob or date moth Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) were studied as a basic requirement for the initiation of an SIT/F1 sterility program. In this study, the effect of gamma radiation was determined on fecundity, egg hatch, longevity, and level of inherited sterility in the carob moth. Newly emerged virgin male and female carob moth adults were exposed to increasing irradiation doses (100, 150, 200, 250, 300, and 350 Gy) to determine the effective dose of gamma rays capable of sterilizing male and female adults of the carob moth. Parental fecundity and longevity was affected by increasing irradiation dose. The results indicated that a dose of 350 Gy could completely sterilize carob moth males. No larvae hatched from eggs deposited by 300 Gy irradiated females. The data indicate that 300 Gy was the fully sterilizing dose for female and sub‐sterilizing dose for male carob moth. Radiation‐induced deleterious inherited effects in offspring from irradiated males and females were expressed as reduction in fecundity, egg hatch, longevity, and decreased adult emergence over subsequent generations.

Biology and Rearing of Ectomyeolis ceratoniae Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), Carob Moth, a Pest of Multiple Crops in South Africa

Ectomyeolis ceratoniae Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), carob moth, is a pest of several crops in South Africa. A laboratory culture was established from field-collected larvae infesting mummified pecan nuts. Biological parameters of larvae reared on an artificial diet were measured. The insect goes through five larval instars, and the head capsule sizes of the five instars were determined to be ≤0.34 mm, 0.35–0.64 mm, 0.65–0.94 mm, 0.95–1.14 mm and ≥0.15 mm for the five instars, respectively. The insect was reared individually and communally in glass vials, the latter to develop a mass-rearing technique. Developmental time from neonate to pupa was significantly slower when larvae were individually reared (38.18 ± 1.2 days) compared to when they were communally reared (24.6 ± 0.65 days).Amicrosporidian infection (Nosema sp.) was recorded in the culture, causing significantly (F1,6 = 14.99, P = 0.0082) higher mortality of communally reared larvae (76.25 % ± 11.87) than individually reared larvae (24.9 % ± 9.6).

Seasonal pattern of infestation by the carob moth Ectomyelois ceratoniae in pomegranate cultivars

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) orchards in the Middle East are typically composed of a mix of different cultivars in which variation in fruit infestation by carob moth Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) has been observed. However, seasonal variation in infestation and adaptation of the carob moth to this cropping system have not been explored. We monitored the progress of fruit infestation in 10 pomegranate cultivars during the growing season of two consecutive years in pomegranate orchards of Iran. Overall, levels of infestation in fruits were strongly correlated with susceptibility to fruit cracking in pomegranate, so that cracked fruits and cracking-susceptible cultivars were infested the most. However, this pattern changed during the season. Infestation was first observed on cracking-susceptible cultivars. At this point almost all cracked fruits were infested. Towards the end of the season, infestation in uncracked fruits and cracking-resistant cultivars increased. Uncracked fruits seem better overwintering sites for carob moth as under simulated winter conditions, survival of insect larvae in uncracked fruits was >3 times higher than in cracked fruits. Taken together, our data reveal that cracked fruits of pomegranate are the better host during the growing season, while uncracked fruits better sustain carob moth population in winter. It seems therefore advisable not to grow cracking-susceptible and cracking-resistant cultivars together in the same area.

Improved Synthesis of (Z,E)-9,11,13-Tetradecatrienal, the Sex Pheromone of the Carob Moth Apomyelois (=Ectomyelois) Ceratoniae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

(Z,E)-9,11,13-Tetradecatrienal is a sex pheromone component emitted by virgin females of the Carob Moth Apomyelois ceratoniae Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) which is an important pest of Iranian pomegranate fruits. Chemical control of this pest is not possible and biological methods with pheromones are used. The synthesis of the major component of the sex pheromone was achieved in fewer steps and with lower cost than previously. (Z,E)-9,11,13-Tetradecatrienal was synthesised by four steps with 59% overall yield. The coupling of a conjugated dienynol intermediate from E-1,2-dichloroethylene with vinyl magnesium bromide was achieved in good yield and followed by reduction of dienynol with activated zinc in THF-H2O and oxidation gave the aldehyde of the sex pheromone.

Comparative study of the sex pheromone of carob moth, Apomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller, 1839) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) from four regions of Iran using headspace solid phase micro extraction - gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Harnup guvesi, Apomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller, 1839) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) diger ulkelerde oldugu gibi Iran’da da narin en onemli zararlisidir. Zararlilarin mucadelesi icin uygun herhangi bir kimyasal yontem bulunmamaktadir. Apomyelois ceratoniae 'nin ciftlesmemis disisi tarafindan yayilan eseysel feromon bilesenleri, ust katman kati fazli mikro ekstraksiyon (HS-SPME) yontemi ile karakterize edilmis ve daha sonra gaz kromatografisi / kutle spektrometresi ile analiz edilmistir. Lepidopterlerin cogunda oldugu gibi feromon arastirmalarinda sinirlayici faktorlerden biri, salgi bezinden feromon salim oraninin dusuk olmasidir. Sonuc olarak, Iran'in dort farkli cografi bolgesindeki boceklerin cinsiyet feromon bilesenleri HS-SPME yontemiyle karsilastirmali olarak 2015 yilinda analiz edilmistir. Ana bilesen olan ( Z,E )-9,11,13-tetradekatriyenal ve iz bilesenler, ( Z,E )-9,11-tetradekadienal ve ( Z )-9-tetradekenal tanimlanmis ve referans orneklerle karsilastirilmistir. Bez cikarma ile karsilastirildiginda, HS-SPME tekniginin basitligi, feromon bilesenlerin tanimlanmasi icin uygunlugunu ortaya koymustur.

A new species of Phanerotoma Wesmael (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Cheloninae) parasitoid of the carob moth in South Africa.

A new species, Phanerotoma carobivora van Achterberg & Thackeray, sp. nov. is described from South Africa. It is a common endoparasitoid of the carob moth (Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller (Pyralidae) on pecan (Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch) and citrus fruits in South Africa. Mean percentage of parasitism varied 2-30% between host plants and sampled localities.

Arthropod pests of date palm and their management.

Abstract This review lists 132 species of insect and mite pests associated with date palm ( Phoenix dactylifera L.) grown worldwide. These species are distributed among eight insect orders and 30 families, besides one order of mite comprising nine families. Most of the species (52) were reported on the leaf (frond), while 26 species were associated with the roots and trunk. Green fruits with their stalks and stored dates hosted 27 species each. Coleoptera represented 41% of the listed pest species, followed by Hemiptera (20%), Acari (16%) and Lepidoptera (12%). Although the number of date palm pest species seems to be high, only a few species are considered major pests of economic importance. The major pests include the red palm weevil, ( Rhynchophorus ferrugineus ), old world date mite ( Oligonychus afrasiaticus ), lesser date moth ( Batrachedra amydraula ), Dubas date bug ( Ommatissus lybicus ), green pit scale ( Palmaspis phoenicis ), carob moth ( Ectomyelois ceratoniae ), date palm longhorn beetle ( Jebusaea hammerschmidti ), and almond moth ( Cadra cautella ). The review also lists 90 species of predators and parasitoids representing nine orders and 23 families, indicating their potential role in date palm pest management. The paper summarizes the current knowledge on management tactics including monitoring, agrotechnical measures, biological control, semiochemical-based control and chemical control. The implementation of integrated pest management strategies against major pests, based on the above-mentioned tactics, is discussed. The information gathered in this review indicates that strict quarantine, semiochemicals including pheromones and training and education of farmers are expected to play a central role in area-wide IPM of major date palm pests.

Carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae, detection in pomegranate using visible/near infrared spectroscopy

In pomegranate, carob moth infestation is a postharvest problem. In most cases, damage develops inside the fruit i.e. without affecting the rind. Consequently, visual inspection is not adequate for identification of carob moth in pomegranate fruit because of the lack of external symptoms. In this study, the feasibility of using VIS/NIR spectroscopy as to detect carob moth infestation in pomegranate fruits is demonstrated. The samples included intact as well as infected pomegranate fruits at four different stages of maturity. Discriminant analysis of the samples was performed by soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). The results showed that in all sample groups when the samples were classified by PLS-DA, the high values were found in comparison with the SIMCA models. All the discriminate analyses were accomplished for three different sample sets: standard (only the samples handpicked at standard harvest time consist of stage 1, stage 2 and stage 3), last (only the handpicked at last harvest time including stage 3 and stage 4) and combined (all four studied maturity stages together). The total discriminant power of PLS-DA classes was approximately 88%, 90%, and 86% for standard, last and combined sample sets, respectively. The comparison among different sample groups indicated that the last sample group was predicted with the best prediction accuracy followed by standard and then combined sample group.

Efficacy of mating disruption technique against carob moth, Apomyelois ceratoniae Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in pomegranate orchards in Southeast Turkey (Şanlıurfa)

ABSTRACTCarob moth, Apomyelois (=Ectomyelois) ceratoniae Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a key pest in pomegranate orchards in Southeast of Turkey. The pest causes significant damage and reduces marketability of fruits, and is difficult to control with insecticides. Therefore, it is imperative to develop environmentally sound effective alternative management approaches. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the mating disruption technique and determine the appropriate application dose for the management of the pest. The study was carried out in Central and Suruç districts of Şanlıurfa province (Turkey) in 2011 and 2012. SPLAT EC (Specialized Pheromone-Lure Application Technology) trade named dispenser containing 2% Z7, E9-11-dodecatrienyl formate pheromone mimic was applied at 500, 625 and 750 g/ha in three pomegranate orchards in each district. Results indicated that mating disruption technique significantly reduced the pest populations. But effectiveness of the method was less in terms of the damage rate on fruits. Pheromone applied at 500 g/ha was not effective. However, application at 625 g/ha reduced the pest populations to an acceptable level. Thus, the concentration could be considered an appropriate dose for the less abundant pest population within integrated pest management while higher population would require combining the mating disruption method with a bio-insecticide.

Effect of hot air on Deglet Noor palm quality parameters and on Ectomyelois ceratoniae

Insect infestation caused by Ectomyelois ceratoniae or carob moth is one of the main postharvest problems that lead to a decrease of marketable quality of dates. The control of carob moth is a mandatory process for exported fruits, and the main chemical method used to prevent pest diseases of palm date is methyl bromide. However, its use is being restricted due to direct, harmful effects to the environment, and indirect effects on humans. Hot air treatments (HATs) could be physical alternatives to methyl bromide and other chemicals. Three HATs (55 °C for 30 min, 60 °C for 15 min, 60 °C for 20 min) were studied on Deglet Noor date fruits when stored for 45 d at 2 °C followed by a retail period of 4 d at 23 °C. The results showed that the use of HATs led to 100% E. ceratoniae larvae mortality in naturally-infested date. These HATs did not cause any damage on fruit quality and reduced mesophilic bacterial counts (<1 log CFU g−1). These HATs, especially the combination of highest temperature and longer time of application (60 °C for 20 min), decreased the antioxidant activity (25% in DPPH and 14% in FRAP assay). Storage time also had a significant impact, reducing color (h°), antioxidant activity, and total phenolic content of date fruits (39%). When this storage was accompanied by a retail period at 23 °C, the firmness and sensorial parameters of date fruits was significantly reduced. Nevertheless, all date fruits from HATs and control treatments maintained their marketability quality for 45 d at 2 °C followed by a retail period of 4 d at 23 °C. Results show that HATs are a physical, non-chemical, treatment for E. ceratoniae larvae mortality that maintained date fruits' postharvest quality.

Are Entomopathogenic Nematodes Effective Biological Control Agents Against the Carob Moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae?

The carob moth (Ectomyelois ceratoniae) is the key pest of pomegranate, which causes a significant percentage of losses in pomegranate orchards and warehouses of Iran annually. The pest larvae are characterized by displaying a cryptic behavior within the fruit, which avoids most routine control techniques, especially chemical method. The low efficiency of traditional measurements and also the rich species diversity of natural enemies within the infested fruits highlight the necessity of exploring effective control methods, especially environmental friendly approaches. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are a group of biological control agents that actively search for the host, including those in a cryptic habitat like the carob moth larvae within infested fruits. Here, we assumed that treatment of the infested and dropped fruits with EPNs may provide new insight into the management of the carob moth. Three species of EPNs, Steinernema feltiae, S. carpocapsae, and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora were selected and used in a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments. In preliminary assays, the EPNs species were used with different concentrations of infective juveniles (IJs) (0, 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 IJ/larvae) in 2-cm diam. plates. The mortality rates of the laboratory tests were 79.75% and 76.5% for S. feltiae and S. carpocapsae, corresponded to LC50 value of 2.02 IJ/larva for S. feltiae and 2.05 IJ/larva for S. carpocapsae. On the contrary, H. bacteriophora demonstrated low virulence on the pest larvae in petri tests with a LC50 = 426.92 IJ/larva. Hence, both Steinernema species were selected for subsequent experiments. The penetration rate for S. feltiae and S. carpocapsae into the hemocoel of the pest was 43% and 31%, respectively, and the corresponding reproduction rate was 15,452 IJ/larva for S. feltiae and 18,456 IJ/larva for S. carpocapsae. The gathered data from those in vitro tests were used for a field assay. Different concentrations (5, 10, 50, 100, and 160 IJ/cm2 of the arena) of S. feltiae and S. carpocapsae were applied in the field test. The mean mortality results from the last test were 10.89% and 26.65% for S. feltiae and S. carpocapsae, respectively. Finally, we found that these low virulence rates of the nematodes were attributed to inhibitory/repellency effects of saprophytic fungi within the infested pomegranates, a usual status of the infested fruits in autumn or winter seasons. Future work on additional EPN populations more adapted to the extreme conditions of the pomegranate production area in Iran may provide sufficient evidence to continue the further investigation on the best EPN species populations and advanced formulations with high durability.

Hot water treatments combined with cold storage as a tool for Ectomyelois ceratoniae mortality and maintenance of Deglet Noor palm date quality

Insect infestation caused by Ectomyelois ceratoniae or carob moth is one of the main postharvest disease pests of date fruit and causes serious economic losses during storage and export. Methyl bromide is the most widely used fumigant on stored dates in several countries although it will be withdrawn in 2015 in developing countries. Heat treatment technologies, such as hot water treatment (HWT) are currently a relatively simple, non-chemical alternative that can kill quarantine pests (insects and fungi) in perishable commodities. In this article, the proper HWT treatments (dose and time) that causes E. ceratoniae mortality while avoiding quality losses in Deglet Noor fruit when stored for 30d at 2°C followed by a retail period of 4d at 23°C was studied. The results show that the use of HWT of 50°C for 10min, 55°C for 5min and 60°C for 3min lead to E. ceratoniae mortality, also lowering the microbial growth (<1logcfug−1 for mesophilic and <2logcfug−1 for yeasts and molds). HWT induced a slight reduction in skin color (luminosity and hue angle), antioxidant activity (10–15% in FRAP and 17–22% in DPPH) and total phenolic compounds (9–14%). Overall quality was slightly reduced using 60°C for 3min although all treatments remained above the limit of marketability as there was no heat damage. Storage time also reduced these parameters, as well as monosaccharides (glucose and fructose) and the concentrations of some amino acids such as alanine, aspartic acid and proline. HWT used as an alternative to chemical treatments to control carob moth yielded optimum-quality Deglet Noor date fruit that could be exported to developed countries.

A field screening of pomegranate cultivars for resistance to the carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae, and compatibility with its larval parasitoids

The use of resistant cultivars could be an efficient pest management strategy against the carob moth Ectomyelois ceratoniae in pomegranate orchards. To identify possible resistant pomegranate cultivars, fruit infestation with E. ceratoniae larvae as well as the incidence of their parasitoids were monitored on 19 pomegranate cultivars in Isfahan, Iran. There were significant differences between cultivars in terms of larval infestation of fruits and the parasitoid activity on them. The cultivars S-Sefid-Saveh and Malas-Esfahan were the most resistant cultivars with 10% ± 0.9% and 15% ± 2.4% infestations, respectively. The most susceptible cultivars were D-hamomi-Pishva, Shahpar-Pishva and G-shahpar-Varamin with 80% ± 2%, 80% ± 0.88% and 79% ± 0.7% infestation, respectively. Parasitism rate was significantly different between cultivars as well, but this was not related to the cultivars resistance. Three parasitoid species, Apanteles myeloenta, Venturia canescens and Bracon hebetor, were collected and identified from the pest larvae, and A. myeloenta was the most abundant species. The highest rate of parasitism (6.8% ± 0.4%) was observed on the G-Shahpar-Varamin, which was the only cultivar from which all the parasitoid species were collected.

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT FOR CAROB MOTH (SPECTROBATES CERATONIAE ZELL.) IN IRAN

Carob moth is the most important pest for pomegranate production in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Moreover, stored pomegranates decay by the larvae due to penetration of some microorganisms. Pomegranate farmers lose a huge amount annually because of this pest, sometimes up to 80% loss depending on area and cultivar. Carob moth (Spectrobates ceratoniae) is from the Pyralidae family. It is known as pomegranate fruit neck worm in Persian. In this study, we surveyed research done on the pomegranate fruit neck worm, in order to recommend the best method to control the pest. Finally, an integrated method to control this pest is recommended (based on importance respectively) as follows: 1- prevention, 2- mechanical, and 3- biological, methods. Using resistant cultivars which are suitable for an area, as well as using giant fennel for keeping away the pest, are the most effective methods for prevention. Collecting and burning remainders of old fruits from the previous year left on the ground or on the trees, especially all leftover in whole region, to stop hibernation also cleaning fruit crown before storage are some methods for mechanical control. Propagating and releasing Trichogramma wasps has significant results in biological control.

Influence of date fruit biochemical characteristics on damage rates caused by the carob moth (Ectomyelois ceratoniae) in Saharan oases of Algeria

The carob moth (Ectomyelois ceratoniae) is the most formidable pest of date fruits and the main constraint in palm groves of the region of Ouargla (Sahara Desert of Algeria) for date exportation. In order to explain food preferences of the insect pest, this study aims to relate the variation of date infestation rates caused by the carob moth to biochemical characteristics of fruits of 20 date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) cultivars. Biochemical analyses were performed on fruits of twenty cultivars sampled in seven palm groves of the region of Ouargla. Infestation levels caused by the carob moth were assessed at three phenological stages of fruit ripeness within each cultivar. Date infestation rates significantly varied among study cultivars, fruit maturity stages and their interaction. The cultivar Takermoust was the most infested (43%), whereas Bent Khbala and Tati Wtnuh recorded the lowest infestation rates. Tati Wtnuh, Bayd Hmam and Tamsrit are cultivars that produce soft dates. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that food preferences of the carob moth are related with soft and semisoft dates (not based on moisture content, but on the ratio total-sugars/water content), slightly acidic to neutral pH, with high sucrose levels, and low values of total and reducing sugars.

Overproduction of the Bacillus thuringiensis Vip3Aa16 toxin and study of its insecticidal activity against the carob moth Ectomyelois ceratoniae

The vip3Aa16 gene of Bacillus thuringiensis strain BUPM95 was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Optimization of Vip3A16 protein expression was conducted using Plackett–Burman design and response surface methodology. Accordingly, the optimum Vip3A16 toxin production was 170μg/ml at 18h post-induction time and 39°C post-induction temperature. This corresponds to an improvement of 21times compared to the starting conditions. The insecticidal activity, evaluated against Ectomyelois ceratoniae, displayed an LC50 value of 40ng/cm2 and the midgut histopathology of Vip3Aa16 fed larvae showed vacuolization of the cytoplasm, brush border membrane destruction, vesicle formation in the apical region and cellular disintegration.

Effect of some diets on demographic parameters of Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in vitro

Abstract The carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is a cosmopolitan species widely distributed in different habitats worldwide. This moth is a well known pest of many fruits as well as dried fruits in storage. In this study, the biological parameters of the carob moth were studied in a growth chamber under controlled conditions (30±2°C, 65±5% and 16L : 8D). The studied moths were on four diets including pistachio, and pomegranate (both are referred to as the natural diets), and semi-synthetic, and synthetic food. The results demonstrated that survival rate of the carob moth on the two natural diets was higher than the survival rate of the carob moth on the semi-synthetic, and synthetic diets (also referred to as the artificial diets). The highest and lowest amount of life expectancy (ex) were obtained for moths on the pistachio diet (38.82), and the pomegranate diet (29.32), respectively. The highest age-stage specific reproductive value (vxj) was observed for moths on the pistachio diet (181.1). The intrinsic rate of increase (r) and finite rate of increase (λ) were calculated to be highest when the pomegranate diet was used (0.091 and 1.096) and lowest when the synthetic diet was used (0.06) and (1.062). The highest amounts of net reproductive rate and mean fecundity were obtained for moths fed the pistachio diet and the lowest were for moths fed the synthetic diet. Our results also showed that the mean generation times were 48.32, 44.42, 37.19, and 42 days for moths fed synthetic food, pistachio, pomegranate, and semi-synthetic food, respectively. The outcome of this research can be used to effectively select the most useful rearing of carob moths for using them in natural pheromone traps as Integrated Pest Management programs.

English

In an attempt to find out the reasons of pomegranante fruit drop due to insect attacks, regular collection of all fallen fruits beneath trees of nine different varieties was done during the fruiting season from August 2013 to December 2013 in an organic pomegranate orchard in the Chott-Mariem region of Tunisia. Apparently heatlthy and cracked fruits were dissected in the laboratory to identify insect larvae found inside. Results indicate that fruits were attacked by three larvae insect species: the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera, Tephritidae), the carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) and the pomegranate butterfly, Virachola livia Klug 1834 (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae). Two different insect larvae can be found jointly inside fruits but no fruits were attacked by the three insect larvae together. All fruits varieties harbor the larvae of C. capitata whereas E. ceratoniae larvae were present in eight of nine varieties. Varieties numbered 1, 8 and 9 were free from V. livia larvae attacks and hence can be considered as resistant cultivars. With respect to Lepidoptera larvae attacks (E. ceratoniae and V. livia), we can assume Variety 1 as resistant. Nevertheless, more research was needed to corroborate these results. &nbsp; Key words: Pomegranate, fruit drop, Ectomyelois&nbsp; ceratoniae, Virachola livia, Ceratitis capitata.