Evaluation of the sex pheromone of carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller and quince moth, Euzophera bigella Zeller in the conditions of Iran

Carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae, and quince moth, Euzophera bigella (= E. punicaeella) are two important insect pests of fruit trees with many host plants. But in Iran, they are respectively considered as the most destructive insect pests of pomegranate and quince fruits. Two field tests were carried out in 1999 to evaluate the efficiencies of synthetic sex pheromones of carob moth in pomegranate orchards in Yazd and of quince moth in a quince garden in Natanz. A synthetic blend of (Z-E)-9,11,13-tetradecatrienal, (Z-E)-9,11- tetradecadienal and (Z)-9-tetradecenal (10:1:1) were tested as the sex pheromone of carob moth. A mixture of (Z,E)-9,12-tetradecadien-1-ol and (Z,E)-9,12-tetradecadien-1-ol was evaluated as the sex pheromone of quince moth. The carob moth captures by the synthetic pheromone-based traps were significantly higher than by the blank control (empty traps). There was not any significant difference between the captures of traps baited with 2 live virgin females and blank control. No significant difference was observed between the capture of synthetic pheromone-based traps, without renewing the dispensers during the experiment, and the traps baited with live insects. But the capture of synthetic pheromone-based traps, with renewing the dispensers at the middle of the trail was significantly higher than traps contained live females. The results showed the efficiency of the synthetic pheromone for the capture of carob moth in the Iranian conditions. But the severe diminution of the capture during the second half of the experiment by the synthetic pheromone-based traps, without renewing the dispensers, showed the instability of the pheromone in the field conditions. The genitalia of captured quince moth by pheromone-based traps and/or the adults of collected larvae in Natanz were morphologically different from the genitalia of E. bigella Zeller. It seems that the specimens belong to a new species of Euzophera. The specimens have been sent to Musée d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris for identification and description. Regarding to the lability and the problem for coasty synthesizing of E. ceratoniae sex pheromone, it's suggested to use the traps baited with live females of this insect for monitoring purposes.