The Effect of the Hight of the Pheromone Traps Type Delta in Trapping and Forecasting the Emergence of the Lesser Date Moth, Batrachedra amydraula Meyrick and Evaluating the Sensitivity of Some Palm Varieties to Insect Injury

Abstract

El-Filahy, M.H.A. and M.Sh. Mansour. 2023. The Effect of the Hight of the Pheromone Traps Type Delta in Trapping and Forecasting the Emergence of the Lesser Date Moth, Batrachedra amydraula Meyrick and Evaluating the Sensitivity of Some Palm Varieties to Insect Injury. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 41(3): 226-232. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-41.3.226232 During the 2021-2022 season field study conducted in Anbar governorate to determine the population dynamics of Batrachedra amydraula using pheromone traps (Alpha scenes Inc. West Linn) and the effect of trap height on number of male insects traped. In addition, host preference and sensitivity of date palm varieties to infestation with the insect was also evaluated. The results obtained showed that the first appearance of the insect was at the end of the third week of March with an average of 2 insects/trap at a temperature of 16.5°C and 51.5% RH. The number of insects caught in the trap reached a peak during the first week of June at an average of 139 insect/trap, at a temperature of 32°C and 42% RH. The insect count then decreased after the third week of June to zero insects/trap until the third week of July. Field experiments also showed that the traps height had an effect on the number of insects caught. The average number of total insects caught in traps at 1.5 m was 45.5, whereas the average number of insects caught in traps placed at 2.5 m was 20.5. The results also showed that the highest total infestation rate in the Khistawi variety was 36.89%, followed by Zahdi (18.83%). The infestation rate of the variety kheyara was the lowest (12.61%). The results also showed the average larval density of the insect Batrachedra amydraula was the highest on the khestawi variety with total average injury severity of 0.14%, followed by zahdi variety with an average total injury severity of 0.05%. Therefore, by combining the infestation rate and average number of the insect larvae, it can be concluded that the Khistawi variety was the most sensitive to the insect, and the variety Kheyara was the most tolerant. In addition, the use of pheromone traps was instrumental in reducing the injury caused by the insect, and using resistant/tolerant varieties can effectively contributes to the reduction of the infestation rate of the insect to become below the economic injury level. Keywords: Date palm, Phoenix dactylifera L., Lesser date moth Batrachedra amydraula, Pheromone traps, Variety sensitivity