Seasonal activity of jasmine moth Palpita unionalis (Lepidoptera : Pyralidae)‎ in response to true spiders and temperature degrees in olive orchard

Abstract EN

The jasmine moth Palpita unionalis (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is one of the serious pests infesting olive trees.

The present study aimed to study some ecological aspects of P.

unionalis and true spiders in olive orchard at Dakahlia Governorate during two successive years (from the 25 th of January 2018 till the 16 th of January 2020).

The obtained results indicated that larval population of P.

unionalis exhibiting four and five peaks of abundance during the first and second year and the highest activity was recorded during autumn and spring of the first and second year.

With respect to true spiders, it exhibited six and five peaks of abundance during the first and second year and the highest activity was recorded during spring of the two studied years.

On contrary, the lowest activity of P.

unionalis and true spiders was recorded during winter of the first year and summer of the second year.

Statistical analysis indicated that P.

unionalis population exhibited positively responses to the true spider population during the first (r = 0.092 ns) and second (r = 0.601*) year.

Both of P.

unionalis and true spiders exhibited insignificant responses maximum, minimum and average temperature during the two studied years.