Biology, ecology, and management of the carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), a pest of dates, Phoenix dactylifera L., in southern California.

摘要

The carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller), is a severe pest of dates in the United States, and has been attributed with causing 10--40% loss of the harvestable crop annually. Currently, the only method of E. ceratoniae control consists of applying a malathion dust insecticide at biweekly intervals to prevent infestation of the harvestable fruit. A new management strategy that focuses on E. ceratoniae biology and ecology is needed.; Biological studies showed that the developmental rate of E. ceratoniae larvae depended on date fruit moisture content and at low moisture content E. ceratoniae mortality was high. Maintaining different stages of date fruit at high moisture content reduced developmental variation normally associated with E. ceratoniae. Silk used by E. ceratoniae larvae to plug the entrance hole of date fruit reduced moisture loss, and maintained fruit at high moisture contents for optimal larval development. E. ceratoniae did not mate successfully at temperatures below 13.7°C, which was the lowest temperature at which females called.; Ecological studies in date gardens determined that E. ceratoniae mortality due to heat and ant predation in fruit removed from the tree and allowed to fall to the ground was nearly 100%. I developed a tool designed for the removal of abscised fruit from the date bunches, and the use of this tool reduced E. ceratoniae densities. Cleaning large areas of infested, abscised fruit also was used to study the spatial pattern of E. ceratoniae re-infestation. Strand thinning from the center of the bunch did not reduce fruit abscission. However, it did reduce the number of abscised fruit trapped in the bunch and this corresponded to a reduction in the number of E. ceratoniae. Information from this dissertation is synthesized into a proposed new management strategy that shifts focus from insecticide applications in fall to reducing E. ceratoniae densities in summer with cultural practices.