Introduce of Konar fruit weevil Alcidodes cf. willcocksi (Pic, 1913) in Iran
Paper ID : 1102-23IPPC
Authors
1Assistant Professor of Bushehr Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center (AREEO),
2plant protection group, agriculture faculty, shashid chamran Ahvaz university
Abstract
Paying close attention to the development of fruit trees with low water requirement and resistant to hot and dry conditions has led to the growing trend of the native (Ziziphus spina-christi L.) and non-native grafted (Z. mauritiana Lam.) orchards in the Bushehr province. Alcidodes cf. willcocksi (Pic, 1913) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is as a pest of the Konar (Ber) fruit in Bushehr province. According to the results the adult’s weevil appear gradually at the same time as the flowering of the trees from of August to march in Bushehr and after mating, they start feeding on leave, flower and branches then laying eggs of Konar fruit core. In the early of February, This generation had a clear pick point and the average population was gradually declined to the lowest amount in early March. Time to start oviposition was coincided with the Full drop of petals. Each female laid only one egg on each Konar fruit core. The larva fed on the contents of the fruit core, and they spent pupal period in the fruits. Adult insect emerged from the fruit gradually. The female of A. cf. willcocksi creates a hole for egg-laying on the fruit skin to close the core surface, and while feeding on the flesh, an egg lay on the core surface. The weevil females generally begin laying eggs in Konar fruit when the fruit is nearly hardened and contains a developing lignified pericarp. Neonate larva enters the Konar fruit burrowing through the flesh into the seeds, where they feed until pupation, destroying the seed. Adult’s weevils and grubs both feeds upon the host plant but grubs were seen more destructive. At the first, the specimens were identified as Alcidodes sp. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) by Alexander Riedel of Zoologische Staatssammlung, Muenchhausenstr, Muenchen, Germany. This genus is very specious in tropical Asian countries, but very few species occur in the Palearctic region. The Curculionidae was identified as Alcidodes cf. willcocksi (Pic, 1913) by Miguel A. Alonso-Zarazaga from Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales José Gutiérrez Abascal, Madrid, Spain. Currently, various species of Ziziphus are known as the main host of the weevil in Bushehr province. A. cf. willcocksi completed 2 to 3 generations in a year.
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