Determination of hosts of Honeydew moth [Cryptoblabes gnidiella Mill., 1867 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)] and damage ratio on pomegranate fruits in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

This study was carried out in pomegranate orchards and other agricultural area in Adana, Mersin and Osmaniye provinces of the Eastern Mediterranean Region in 2007-2009.  In this study, in order to determine host plants of Honeydew moth [ Cryptoblabes gnidiella Mill., 1867 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)] in the region, damage ratios of the pest on pomegranate fruits was determined by counting 1000 fruits from four different orchards in Adana (Yuregir and Kozan districts), Mersin (Tarsus district) and Osmaniye (Central district) provinces while making non-periodic random samplings in the agricultural areas where may be host plants of the pest are present. At the end of study avocado ( Persea americana Mill.), grapefruit ( Citrus paradisi Macf.), lemon ( Citrus limon L.), mandarin ( Citrus reticulata L.), maize ( Zea mays L.), pomegranate ( Punica granatum L.), cotton ( Gossypium hirsitum L.), eggplant ( Solanum melongena L.), sweet orange ( Citrus sinensis L.), persimmon ( Diosppyros kaki L . ) and grape ( Vitis vinifera L.) were determined as host plants of C. gnidiella. This is the first report for avocado, maize, eggplant and persimmon in Turkey, as host plants of C. gnidiella . Additionally, mean damage ratio was 33.1 and 25.7% on pomegranate fruits by C. gnidiella in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Percent damage ratio changed between 6.4 and 41.2% during this study.