بیواکولوژی کنهRhyncaphytoptus ficifoliae (Trombidiformes; Diptilomiopidae) در باغات انجیر شهرستان خرم آباد

The present study was performed to study the population changes of the mite Rhyncaphytoptus ficifoliae Keifer (Trombidiformes; Diptilomiopidae) on fig trees in Khoramabad city during 2023-2024. The population density on the leaves was determined by regular sampling in the spring and summer. The parts close to the base of the fig leaf and around the main vein with dimensions of 1 x 1 cm were selected as sampling units. Once a week, the required samples (40 samples) were taken randomly from different parts of the fig tree and were transferred to the laboratory, and the number of movable stages of the pest including adults and immatures (larvae and nymphs) were counted under a stereomicroscope. Sampling was done at 9-12 in the morning. To determine the migration process in February 2023, 20 branches were selected from five trees in the garden and adhesive traps were installed including paper glue and a type of water glue. Sticky traps were placed in the path of movement of mites to trap those that passed over the trap. Also, in September, sticky traps were installed to determine the migration time of mites to their wintering places. Sticky tapes were replaced every week and the number of trapped mites was counted. With the beginning of the winter, in order to find places for overwintering and counting the number of overwintered mites, samples were taken from the buds of branches and other places where there was a possibility of mites. Based on the results, the mites overwintered mostly as deutogyne under and on the sides of fig branch scales. Investigations showed that mites started migrating from their wintering places to fig leaves in mid February 2023. The activity of mites on the leaves started from April and continued until November. The peak population of mites was observed in the second week of September. As temperature decreased in the third week of October, the mites started to migrate to the overwintering places, i.e. the scales of the buds, and this process of migration continued until the third week of November. Also, to determine the relationship between fig pest population fluctuations and temperature and relative humidity, meteorological data was taken from the meteorological station located in the Meteorological Organization of Lorestan province, and the regression relationship between temperature and relative humidity with the trend of population changes of this mite in 2023 was positively determined.