The carob moth first was discovered infesting dates in California in 1982 and is now recognized as the most economically damaging pest of the date industry, causing over $1 million in damage annually. Like many stored-product pests, the carob moth is polyphagous and has a large economically-important host range including almonds, dates, pistachios, walnuts, and pomegranates. Normally in dates only one larvae will infest a single fruit at a given time but the same fruit may be used by more than one moth in a year.
We will discuss our research on the seasonality of various carob moth life stages and how moth densities are related to host phenology and fruit quality. We also will present information on larval behavior.
Back to Ten-Minute Papers, Subsection Cd. Behavior and Ecology (Session 3)
Back to Ten-Minute Papers, Section Ca, Cb, Cc, Cd, Ce, and Cf
Back to The 2002 ESA Annual Meeting and Exhibition