Contribution to the knowledge of almond pests in East Mediterranean countries

Abstract

The biology of five species of borers that attack almond trees in the East Mediterranean is presented. Capnodis tenebrionis L. and C. carbonaria Kl. are two Buprestids commonly found in stone fruit orchards, specially in almond trees. The life cycle requires 12 to 15 months to be completed. Cerambyx dux Fald. is living in the wood of all species of stone fruit trees. Its attacks are directed against weak but not dead trees. The completion of a life‐cycle of this species requires two years. Ruguloscolytus amygdali Guer. and R. mediterraneus Egg. belonging to family Scolytidae attack weak or damaged trees of the genus Prunus and particularly almond. Newly emerged adults feed by boring short tunnels in front of a bud. The gallery bored by the gravid female is some 10 to 20 mm long. Each of the two species completes three generations per year in the costal area of Lebanon. Zusammenfassung Zur Kenntnis der Mandelschädlinge im Mittleren Osten. III. Zur Biologie holzbohrender Käfer Die Biologie von 5 im Holz der Mandelbäume lebender Käfer in den östlichen Mittelmeerländern wird behandelt. Die 2 Buprestiden Capnodis tenebrionis L. und C. carbonaria Kl. leben in allen Steinfruchtbäumen, speziell der Mandel. Ihr Lebenszyklus wird in 12–15 Monaten beendet. Der Bockkäfer Cerambyx dux Fald. lebt ebenfalls im Holz aller Steinfruchtbäume. Er befällt kränkliche, aber nicht tote Bäume. Seine Generationszeit beträgt 2 Jahre. Die Scolytiden Ruguloscolytus amygdali Guer. und R. mediterraneus Egg. leben in kranken oder beschädigten Bäumen der Gattung Prunus, speziell der Mandel. Die frisch geschlüpften Käfer vollführen Reifungsfraß, indem sie kurze Gänge in die Knospen bohren. Die befruchteten ♀♀ bohren 10–20 cm lange Holzgänge zur Eiablage. Beide Arten haben in der Küstenregion des Libanon 3 Generationen im Jahr.

<b>The invasive aphid <I>Pterochloroides persicae</I> (Cholodkovsky, 1899) (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea: Lachninae) recorded on important fruit trees in Kashmir Valley, India</b>

“…The species is not listed as transmitting a virus (Chan et al 1991) but healthy densities result in premature fruit drop, leaf curling, an irregular curvature of twigs, stunted growth and sooty mold fungal growth development, due to excessive honey dew production (Mann et al 1979;Hondru et al 1986). The species does not depend on attendance by ants for its survival as it can efficiently eject its honeydew but ants are seen collecting existing honeydew deposits (Talhouk 1977). Although polyphagous, peach is the most preferred host plant of the aphid, with regards to its enhanced fecundity and developmental rates, peach is also considered as the best suited host plant for its mass rearing.…”

“…Anholocyclic and holocyclic means of life cycle of the species from Lebanon was detailed by (Talhouk 1977 …”

Morphometry and biological parameters of different instars of the giant brown peach aphid:Pterochloroides persicaeCholodkovsky 1899 (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Tunisia

“…The morphometry of different aphid instars has not yet been studied despite the importance of the morphometric approach in the study of the impact of environmental factors or the host plant on morphological criteria of aphids (Lozier et al 2007;Hazell et al 2010). As for the biology of P. persicae, Khan et al (1998), Talhouk (1977) and Darwish et al (1989) showed that this aphid species can display both holocyclic and anholocyclic life cycles depending on environmental conditions. Thus, in countries where winter temperatures drop below freezing, e.g.…”

“…A brief description of the morphology of the aphid is as follows: the wingless are large, shiny, oval, and dark brown to black; the alates have a typical pigmented area on the forewings; and their size varies between 2.7 to 4.2 mm (Talhouk 1977;Darwish et al 1989;Blackman & Eastop 1984;Kairo & Poswal 1995). The morphometry of different aphid instars has not yet been studied despite the importance of the morphometric approach in the study of the impact of environmental factors or the host plant on morphological criteria of aphids (Lozier et al 2007;Hazell et al 2010).…”

“…Thus, in countries where winter temperatures drop below freezing, e.g. Turkey, Central Asia, India and Syria, P. persicae usually has a holocyclic life cycle (Talhouk 1977), but it remains anholocyclic in warmers areas, e.g. Egypt and Tunisia (Darwish *Corresponding author.…”