K.A.M. Al Abbas1 and A.A. Mohammed2
(1) University of Karbala, College of Agriculture, Department of Plant Protection, Karbala, Iraq; (2) Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kufa, Iraq.
*Email address of the corresponding author: [email protected]
This study was carried out in several orchards in Karbala governorate, Iraq, to monitor and determine the movement of the peach fruit fly Bactrocera zonata when the fruits of various citrus species are injured during different periods, in addition to determine the impact of temperatures and relative humidity on the insect population density. The results obtained showed that both temperature and relative humidity had a significant effect on the population density of the B. zonata, where the mean numbers decreased from 417.66, 373.34, 286.32 and 292.65 male/trap/week in the first half of October, and the numbers then began to decrease with the decrease in temperature to reach 131.32, 95.32, 61 and 44.68 male/trap/week in the first half of December for the Husseiniya, Aoun, Al- Boubiyat and Al-Hur locations, respectively. The seasonal peach fly distribution was commensurate with the presence of fruits and the stage of their maturity in the field, as the Mandarin injury was in October and November, whereas the Oranges damage was observed during mid-October, November and January, while the sour orange injury was observed in December. The results obtained also showed that the peach fruit fly injury varied based on different varieties, the fruits infestation rate and the average number of larvae inside the fruit. The Mandarin fruits were the most preferred type of citrus for the insect, followed by sweet oranges and then oak and sour orange. As for life tables, it was found that the highest death rate for eggs was 19.17% during the month of October and the lowest was during November (12.77 %). The results also showed that the highest larvae death rate reached 37.71% during December and the lowest of 21.21% during November. For adults, the highest death rate reached 61.68% during December and the lowest during November. Life tables are very useful information to develop integrated management programs to protect the fruits of different fruits from insect damage.
Nutritional preference, life schedules, Mandarin Citrus reticulata, Naring, Citrus aurantium, peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata.
https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-001435