Major insect pests and phytophagous mites associated with deciduous fruit orchards in Afghanistan

Abstract

A study in three different ecological zones: the Paghman valley, Kabul Plateau; the Afghan‐Turkistan; and the Southwestern region, was conducted over two years to learn more about the impact of the major arthropod pests on the quality and quantity of the deciduous fruits in Afghanistan. Eight major pests were found to be causing considerable damage: Codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) and lesser ermine moth, Yponomauta padella (L.) were the limiting factors in the production of apple and almond respectively in some areas. Aphis pomi Degeer, Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausmann) and San Jose scale Quadraspidiotus pernidosus (Comstock) were more serious in the Southwestern region than the other areas. The mites, Tetranychus urticae (Koch) and Panonychus ulmi (Koch) were more serious in the Afghan‐Turkistan region. Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) was not as serious as codling moth.

Keywords:

• insect pests
• mites
• apple
• almond

Notes

Department of Entomology, Wyoming University, Laramie, Wyoming, USA.