COLLECTION, IDENTIFICATION AND APPLICATION POTENTIAL DETERMINATION OF NATURAL ENEMIES OF BATRACHEDRA AMYDRAULA MEYR.

The lesser date moth Batrachedra amydraula Meyr. is one of the most important pests of date fruits in hobabook and kimri stages in south of Iran, especially in the Bushehr and Khuzestan provinces. The larvae feed on embryonic tissues of immature date fruits and cuts the relation between pedicle and fruits, then dry fruits defoliate. Chemical control of this pest, not only was not successful, but also it causes ecosystem pollution and omits some of the predators, parasites and other useful animals. However, natural enemies of this pest were collected, identified and then the application potential of each was determined. Date fruits that were affected by these larvae were obtained weekly from 10 orchards of different zones, at the beginning of the pest activities from Dashtestan and Tangestan regions in Bushehr province. They were reproduced and regenerated in special containers at the laboratory. Two Hymenopter bees Bracon sp. and Gonizus sp. as parasitoids, one larval pathogen bacterium Pasteuria sp. and one spider of the family Thomisidae were identified. Their potential and parasitism were determined. The active parasitoids, predators and bacterial pathogen on lesser date moth (LDM) larvae showed a high potential of biological and natural pest control in Bushehr province with lowest chemical application and environmental pollution in the ecosystem.