Some biological characteristics of the <i>Batrachedra amydraula</i> Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Batrachedridae) on main varieties of dry and semi-dry date palm of Iran

Abstract

Although Iran is the leading producer of dates in the world, only 10% of its product is exported. One of the factors which limits exportation is postharvest pests. Lesser date moth (Batrachedra amydraula) is one of these postharvest pests. This pest is found in all date palm plantations of Iran. The biology of this pest has not been studied under laboratory conditions on main varieties of stored date in Iran. In this research some biological characteristics including survivorship, developmental time, fecundity, oviposition and postoviposition period, and longevity of adults on date palm varieties Zahedi, Ghasb, Rabbi, Deyri and a semi-artificial diet were studied. All experiments carried out at constant temperature room (30 ± 0.5 °C and 55 ± 5% r.h.). Highest survivorship of egg and combined larval and pupal stages were 86 and 85% respectively on semi-artificial diet. Shortest total development time from egg to adult was 43 days for males and 43 days for females on semi-artificial diet. Longest total development time was 69 days for male and 65 days for female on Ghasb variety. The highest (45 eggs per female) and lowest (25 eggs per female) fecundity occurred on the Deyri variety and semi-artificial diet, respectively. Results of this study would be useful for making pest management decisions in date palm storage.

Keywords: Lesser date moth, Batrachedra amydraula, Biology, Date palm