Study on the biology and distribution of long-horned beetles Calchaenesthes pistacivora n. sp. (Col.: Cerambycidae): a new pistachio and wild pistachio pest in Kerman Province.

摘要

The long-horned beetles Hesperophanes seriaceus, Macrotoma scutellaris and Trichoferus pressi have been reported from Iran on cultivated pistachio (Pistacia vera) and wild pistachio (Pistacia mutica) trees. Long-horned beetles were found in the pistachio orchards of Sirjan in April 1999. This insect was identified by Holzschuh (Austria) as Calchaenesthes pistacivora sp. nov. The biology and distribution of this pest was studied by weekly sampling and using sleeve cages over the pistachio branches. One pair of beetles was released in the cages during 2000-03. Adult beetles appear in early April and feed upon pistachio leaves. Eggs are ovoid, 1 mm in diameter and 2 mm in length. The female usually laid eggs on the young twigs or on the pruned branch sites. The female laid 40-45 eggs in her life span. The incubation period for eggs lasts approximately two weeks in natural conditions. New hatched larvae penetrate inside the branches and make a tunnel there. The tunnel length is about 15 cm (approximately). Larval period takes 16 to 18 months (in the natural condition) and full-developed larvae pupated in the base of tunnels. Pupa period takes 45 days (approximately). Adults remain five to six months inside the tunnels. Then they emerge at early April. Thus, this insect has one generation over two years. The infected branches become dry and so this pest causes heavy damage on pistachio trees. The beetle damages were observed in the wild pistachio (Pistacia mutica) and Pistacia khinjuk plantation areas in Sirjan City. Hymenopterans parasitoids Myosoma sp. belonging to family Brachonidae is collected from the final instars of larvae..