shown that host plant susceptibility and releasing rate significantly affected on DBM
and C. vestalis population size and parasitism rate of DBM by Cotesia vestalis
(Karimzadeh et al. 2006, 2012; Heidari and Karimzadeh 2012a, 2012b; Karimzadeh
and Heidary 2012; Soufbaf et al. 2012). Unfortunately, some olfactory studies
confirmed that C. plutella was not been compatible with host plant resistance and
thus they could not be used simultaneously (Karimzadeh et al. 2006). Accordingly, it
has been suggested that using C. vestalis (Haliday) and Bacillus thuringiensis in an
IPM program framework could be may successfully suppress the diamondback moth
population and reduce unnecessary sprayings (Karimzadeh Esfahani and Besharat
Nejad 2017). Moreover, the insect growth regulator precocene has been proved to
interfere in the immune system of P. xylostella thus it might be possible to use this
compound with C. vestalis simultaneously (Alizadeh et al. 2012). The effect of three
mass rearing procedures on life-history parameters of C. vestalis has been also
investigated (Rabiei et al. 2017). Additionally, the effect of different mass rearing
procedures on the fertility of C. vestalis and its quality control has been examined
(Karimzadeh et al. 2016a, b).
The carob moth (pomegranate neck worm), Apomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller) (Lep.:
Pyralidae) is a polyphagous moth widely distributed in tropical and subtropical
regions of the world. It attacks to many fruit trees such as citrus, almond, date,
pistachio and fig. The carob moth is the key pest of pomegranate in Iran, which can
cause serious damage up to 80% of pomegranate fruits in Iran (Shakeri 2004).
Pesticide applications did not effectively control the pest due to the special feeding
habits of larvae, which feed on the internal tissues of the pomegranate fruit and
protected from exposure to insecticides. Therefore, mechanical control by collecting
and destroying infested fruits and biological control mainly using the egg parasitoids
of the family Trichogrammatidae are recommended methods for controlling the pest.
In the biological control program of the pomegranate neck worm, several studies
were carried out to collect, identify and evaluate the parasitism rate and the conservation of native parasitoids of the superfamily Ichneumonoidea in different regions
of Iran (Kishani Farahani et al. 2010a, b, 2012a, b; Kishani-Farahani and Goldansaz
2013; Norouzi et al. 2009). In a survey carried on three regions of pomegranate
production, it has been reported that The braconid, Apanteles myeloenta Wilkinson
(Hym.: Braconidae) was the dominant species attacking larvae and preferred second
instars. They reported that the parasitism rate reached its peak value in September at
all three selected regions (Kishani Farahani et al. 2008, 2010a, b). In the world, Yu
et al. (2012) listed 15 species of the superfamily Ichneumonoidea and 10 species of
the superfamily Chalcidoidea as a parasitoid of the pomegranate neck worm. Delvare
et al. (2011) reported three new species of the family Chalcididae from Iran:
Brachymeria ceratoniae Delvare, Proconura persica Delvare and Psilochalcis
ceratoniae Delvare, as parasitoids of A. ceratoniae. The reported Braconidae and
Ichneumonidae parasitoids of the pomegranate neck worm in Iran are presented in
Table 7.6.
The pistachio fruit hull borer moth (PFHBM), Arimania komaroffi (Ragonot)
(Lep.: Pyralidae) was not a pest until early 2000 but it changed gradually to an
important pest of pistachio trees in Rafsanjan county, Kerman province, the largest
270
H. Lotfalizadeh and A. Mohammadi-Khoramabadi
and C. vestalis population size and parasitism rate of DBM by Cotesia vestalis
(Karimzadeh et al. 2006, 2012; Heidari and Karimzadeh 2012a, 2012b; Karimzadeh
and Heidary 2012; Soufbaf et al. 2012). Unfortunately, some olfactory studies
confirmed that C. plutella was not been compatible with host plant resistance and
thus they could not be used simultaneously (Karimzadeh et al. 2006). Accordingly, it
has been suggested that using C. vestalis (Haliday) and Bacillus thuringiensis in an
IPM program framework could be may successfully suppress the diamondback moth
population and reduce unnecessary sprayings (Karimzadeh Esfahani and Besharat
Nejad 2017). Moreover, the insect growth regulator precocene has been proved to
interfere in the immune system of P. xylostella thus it might be possible to use this
compound with C. vestalis simultaneously (Alizadeh et al. 2012). The effect of three
mass rearing procedures on life-history parameters of C. vestalis has been also
investigated (Rabiei et al. 2017). Additionally, the effect of different mass rearing
procedures on the fertility of C. vestalis and its quality control has been examined
(Karimzadeh et al. 2016a, b).
The carob moth (pomegranate neck worm), Apomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller) (Lep.:
Pyralidae) is a polyphagous moth widely distributed in tropical and subtropical
regions of the world. It attacks to many fruit trees such as citrus, almond, date,
pistachio and fig. The carob moth is the key pest of pomegranate in Iran, which can
cause serious damage up to 80% of pomegranate fruits in Iran (Shakeri 2004).
Pesticide applications did not effectively control the pest due to the special feeding
habits of larvae, which feed on the internal tissues of the pomegranate fruit and
protected from exposure to insecticides. Therefore, mechanical control by collecting
and destroying infested fruits and biological control mainly using the egg parasitoids
of the family Trichogrammatidae are recommended methods for controlling the pest.
In the biological control program of the pomegranate neck worm, several studies
were carried out to collect, identify and evaluate the parasitism rate and the conservation of native parasitoids of the superfamily Ichneumonoidea in different regions
of Iran (Kishani Farahani et al. 2010a, b, 2012a, b; Kishani-Farahani and Goldansaz
2013; Norouzi et al. 2009). In a survey carried on three regions of pomegranate
production, it has been reported that The braconid, Apanteles myeloenta Wilkinson
(Hym.: Braconidae) was the dominant species attacking larvae and preferred second
instars. They reported that the parasitism rate reached its peak value in September at
all three selected regions (Kishani Farahani et al. 2008, 2010a, b). In the world, Yu
et al. (2012) listed 15 species of the superfamily Ichneumonoidea and 10 species of
the superfamily Chalcidoidea as a parasitoid of the pomegranate neck worm. Delvare
et al. (2011) reported three new species of the family Chalcididae from Iran:
Brachymeria ceratoniae Delvare, Proconura persica Delvare and Psilochalcis
ceratoniae Delvare, as parasitoids of A. ceratoniae. The reported Braconidae and
Ichneumonidae parasitoids of the pomegranate neck worm in Iran are presented in
Table 7.6.
The pistachio fruit hull borer moth (PFHBM), Arimania komaroffi (Ragonot)
(Lep.: Pyralidae) was not a pest until early 2000 but it changed gradually to an
important pest of pistachio trees in Rafsanjan county, Kerman province, the largest
270
H. Lotfalizadeh and A. Mohammadi-Khoramabadi