Bull. Fac. Agric., Cairo Univ., 58(2): 164-172, 2007

Investigations on certain biological and ecological parameters of the cereal leafminer Syringopias temperatella Led. (Lep., Scythrididae)

Abstract: The cereal leaf miner, Syringopais temperatella Led. (Lepidoptera: Scythrididae) has been a threatening pest on wheat over the last five years in Karak District-Jordan. The insect feeds on the plant foliage, soon turning its leaves into yellow and eventually leads to a sharp decline in production. Therefore, in order to establish control measures for this damaging pest, the current study was undertaken to investigate its biology (on wheat at 20±2°C), parasitoid, preference for certain plant species and the degree of distribution in the Karak District. Results showed that S. temperatella was able to develop on wheat and reach to adult stage. Mean total developmental period was 43.61 days. Total mortality was 74.70%. Sex ratio (females: males) of S. temperatella was 1: 0.39. Total parasitism by Anilastus sp. Förster (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) reached up to 49.45%. Mean longevity of 11.36, 12.09 and 13.73 days for mated females, unmated females and males was recorded, respectively. The mean longevity of Anilastus sp. females with 15.64 days was significantly longer than that for males with 10.36 days. Maximum mean numbers of daily laid eggs by mated and unmated ones were 4.50 and 1.00 eggs/female, respectively. Mean total fecundity of mated females was 25.71 eggs/female, being significantly higher than unmated ones with only 4.73 eggs/female.

Results also showed that S. temperatella preference among the different plant species tested was significantly greater for wild barely with a mean leaf area consumed of 2.04 cm² as compared to barely with a mean of 0.72 cm² or wheat with a mean of 0.37 cm². Infestation by the cereal leaf miner is distributed at the central line extending from the northern to southern areas of Karak District.