Trakia Journal of Sciences, Vol. 14, № 1, 2016 39 Trakia Journal of Sciences, No 1, pp 39-46, 2016 Copyright © 2016 Trakia University Available online at: http://www.uni-sz.bg ISSN 1313-7050 (print) ISSN 1313-3551 (online) doi:10.15547/tjs.2016.01.005 Original Contribution EFFECT OF LARVAL DIET ON FEMALES’ ATTRACTION OF ECTOMYELOIS CERATONIAE ZELLER (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE) IN PHEROMONE TRAPS A. Zare Mehrjardy, S. Ravan, N. Sahebzadeh * Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol. Iran ABSTRACT Purpose: Feed resources for larval development act on attractive ability of Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) females. Its sex pheromone components are synthesized but due low stability not acceptable to recommend for pest control. As alternative method, the reared virgin female moths are suggested for baiting in pheromone traps. To aim this purpose we conducted this research. Method: The female moths were reared on dietary treatments including fruits of pomegranates and figs and semi-artificial diet in the laboratory. The traps were used for nine days on sunset in the pomegranate and fig orchards. By next morning, the captured moths by the traps were collected and counted. Results: The results confirmed that different treatments attracted different number of moths significantly. In pomegranate and fig orchards, means of captured moths by the traps baited with the reared females on pomegranate and fig fruits were more than other treatments, respectively. In both orchards, the reared females on semi-artificial diet captured less compare to two treatments. The interactions between treatments and orchards were significant different. Conclusion: We reported the efficiency of feeding supply during the larval period for sex pheromone production and their ability to attract moths of E. ceratoniae in the orchards. Key words: pomegranate, fig, host plant, carb moth, semi-artificial diet, sex pheromone INTRODUCTION Pomegranate (Punica granatum L., Punicacea) is native to Iran and some surrounding areas. Iran is one of the best-known countries with a large production of pomegranate. Pomegranate export and consumption of fresh fruits and processed products such as juice, puree, etc. play a direct effect on economic growth of country. Low numbers of pests are found on pomegranate trees in comparison with other fruit trees (1, 2). Among them, the pomegranate fruit moth (or the carob moth) Ectomyelois Ceratoniae Zeller (Lepidopter: Pyralidae) as a major pest of pomegranate orchards is efficiently controlled by sex pheromone traps (3, 4). Insect sex pheromones as a well-known part of integrated pest management (IPM) have been contributed since 1970s (5, 6). Calling behavior using Lepidopteran sex pheromones greatly use to monitor the seasonal density fluctuations, timing of insecticide spray and ___________________________ *Correspondence to: Najmeh Sahebzadeh, Tel. +5431232155, Fax +5431232100, E mail- najmeh.sahebzadeh@gmail.com presence of invasive moth species like E. ceratoniae. (7, 8, 9). A variety of large to small molecules like aliphatic molecules to cyclic monoterpenoids are detected in insect sex pheromones (5). The traps baited with female sex lures detect a pest species by attracting the male. Then male caught in the sticky surface in the trap (10). The traps with synthetic or natural sex pheromone lures require virgin females, which could be reared in laboratory or collected in the infected orchards. The traps baited by natural sex pheromone of virgin female attract a mate rather than synthetic sex pheromones (7, 11). Mass trapping baited by sex pheromones integrate with other control methods of pests successfully by very strong attractants for species-specific male moths (5, 12, 13, 14). Researchers have synthesized and identify sex pheromones from different species of moths such as Amyelois transitiella (Pyralidae, (15)), Andraca bipunctata (Bombycidae, (16)), and Grapholita molesta (Tortricidae, (17).