شكل شناسي و زيست شناسي برگخوار مهم درختان كنار در استان بوشهر

The her trees (Christʹs thorn) (Ziziphus spp.) are accounted as an important forest species in Bushehr preince. Thiacidas postica Walker is one of the most important pests of Ziziphus spp. in this province. The noctuid larvae cause weakness of the trees and fruit loss. Biological study carried out in controlled laboratoary conditions during 1997-98, showed that the insect has two or three generations per year. Adult insect of the first generation appeared in March and May and for the 2nd in December and January. Because of the gradual appearance different life stages of the insect could be found simultaneouly in nature. Laying eggs is carried out as batches on lower surface of the young leaves and branches. 82-425 eggs were observed per batch and maximum number of eggs per female was 450-850. The incubation period was 5-10 days. This insect has 5 larval instars and the first to third instar larvae are active in aggregation. Larval development was completed in 23 to 75 days. The prepupal period has 3 forms, short period (3-30 days), long period (30-79 days) and 123-270 days for the diapaosing larvae in cocoons. The pupal period was 7-45 days. The longevity of the adult was 3-13 days. Some tachinid fly species foundas parasitoids for the larvae of T. postica in Bushehr province.