POMEGRANATE MOTH IS THE MOST DANGEROUS PEST OF POMEGRANATE BUSHES IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE WESTERN PART OF AZERBAIJAN

Abstract

The pomegranate moth (Euzophera punicacella Mocre.) is the most widespread and well-known pest of pomegranate bushes in the western part of Azerbaijan. The loss of yield from the pomegranate moth (Euzophera punicacella Mocre.) in the pomegranate orchards of Azerbaijan often reaches significant sizes. The article provides data on the biology, prevalence, harmfulness of the pomegranate moth (Euzophera punicacella Mocre.), as well as measures to combat it. Research work was carried out from 2018 to 2020 in the pomegranate orchards of the Ganja-Kazakh geographic zone: route surveys, stationary observations, laboratory field and field experiments. Stationary observations were carried out in the industrial pomegranate orchards of the Goranboy region (western part of Azerbaijan, part of the Ganja- Kazakh geographic zone). Caterpillars collected from damaged fruits in a pomegranate garden served as the material for the study. To determine the harmfulness of the pomegranate moth (Euzophera punicacella Mocre.), 10 test bushes were isolated on the cultivars ‘Krmyzy kabukh’ and ‘Pink gulosha’ before flowering. The harmfulness was established by a systematic analysis of damaged fruits and removable crops from experimental bushes. The wintering place of caterpillars was determined by examining 10 experimental bushes at the age of 7 years. Starting from the third ten-day period of March, we examined weekly carrion, crusts, mummified pomegranate fruits that remain in the garden after harvesting and the bark of boles. When studying the timing of the development of individual phases, the number of generations and other issues in laboratory-field conditions, experiments were set up under gardens mounted on pomegranates. The optimal timing of chemical and biological pest control was recommended based on the study of the biological characteristics of the pomegranate moth (Euzophera punicacella Mocre.).