بررسي بيولوژيكي پشه گل آذين انبه در استان هرمزگان

A study on the biology of mango inflorescence midge in Hormozgan province

Mango inflorescence midge, Erosomyia mangferae Felt, is another new species of Cecidomyiidae which has been caused heavy damage to mango orchards of Hormozgan province in recent years. The insect biology and distribution, was studied by weekly sampling and use of sleeve cages during 1997-1998. It was collected from all mango orchards in Minab, Roodan and BandarAbbas. The mean percent of infested inflorescence were determined 59.25 and 67.5 in Minab and Roodan respectively. Mango inflorescence midge is only active during flowering season and spends other periods as pupa in soil, when inflorescences appear, the female midges lay their eggs on flower buds and scarcely on tender inflorescence axis. After hatching, the young larvae start theirs feeding, destroy the flower buds and also make small tunnel in branches. Infested flower buds become dark, dry and fall off, also due to secondary infestation by colletotrichum gloeosporioides, in exit route of mature larvae on branches, the damage will be increased and in heavy infestation, fruit setting completely inhibited. After full feeding, mature larvae leave the inflorescences and enter to the soil for pupation. In natural condition of Minab, embryonic, larval and pupal period were determined, 1-2, 6-13 and 6-8 days, respectively. Mango inflorescence midge produce 3-4 overlapping generations in flowering season (January-April) and each generation last about 20 days. The maximum population density was observed at the middle of February in Minab region.