Ines Ksentini1*, Taieb Jardak2 and Najiba Zeghal3
(1) Olive Tree Genetic Resources’ Laboratory, Olive Tree Institute, University of Sfax, Tunisia; (2) Ecocert Tunisie, Sfax, Tunisia; (3) Animal Physiology Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.
Pages 142-146
The carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Lepidoptera; Pyralidae) is a serious pest attacking pomegranate fruit among other fruit trees. Many practices were used to control this pest, such as cultural control by destroying rotten and mummified fruits. The late fruits are known to shelter this pest during the winter season. This study showed that E. ceratoniae adult females and larvae were attracted to cracked fruits, during the growing season, as the total number of eggs and larvae found in this kind of fruit was far more than that found in the un-cracked fruits. Larval migration towards cracked fruits was noticed with a positive correlation between the number of laid eggs and the number of cracked fruits. However, the number of non-cracked fruits present on trees at the peak of every generation had no positive effect on E. ceratoniae females’ egg-laying activity. Thus, the present study showed the importance of avoiding having pomegranate cracked fruits, as they positively impact carob moth adult females’ and larvae’ behavior in pomegranate orchards.
Pomegranate; cracked fruit, carob moth; oviposition; behavior; migration.
https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-001397 
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