Phytoparasitica (2001) 29, 65-66

A. Navon, Y. Nakache, S. Biton, Shlomit Levski and D. Blumberg (2001)
Microbial control of the lesser datepalm moth, Batrachedra amydraula
Phytoparasitica 29 (1), 65-66
18th Conference of the Entomological Society of Israel, May 18, 2000, Bet Dagan, Israel, lecture
Abstract: The lesser datepalm moth, Batrachedra amydraula, is an important pest in datepalm orchards. The insect can cause substantial economic damage by severely reducing crop yield. The larvae infest immature dates after fertilization and therefore the immature fruit should be protected until maturation. The insect is susceptible to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) products. Therefore, a dusting product of Bt was developed in our laboratory to replace undesirable chemical insecticides. The product named 'Bitayon' was licensed in 1977 by the Israel Ministry of Agriculture for use against the pest in datepalms. The dusting product (100-150 µ granular size; produced by Rimi, Tel Aviv, Israel) was based on 20% of the Bt product Bio-Ti 8,000 IU/mg (Bio-Dalia, Dalia, Israel) mixed with a fraction of wheat flour and contains larval feeding stimulants. The product was tested in datepalm orchards in the Bet She'an Valley during the last 4 years. It was compatible with the pollen used for artificial fertilization and therefore was used in combination with the pollen. After the fertilization period was over, the pollen was omitted from the microbial product in order further to protect the young immature dates during the pest season. A dose of 70-100 g product per tree effectively reduced the pest population when dusted on the date clusters by means of a motorized compressor operated from an hydraulic ladder. Unlike the destructive effect of the organophosphate Dursban® (chlorpyriphos) on natural enemies of B. amydraula, treatments with the Bt product did not harm the natural populations of spiders, parasitoid wasps and predator bugs. In additional experiments, a dust preparation of the entomophagous fungus Beauveria sp. and releases of the egg parasitoid Trichogramma sp. showed promising results. Bitayon was effective when applied with the conventional equipment operated in datepalm orchards.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Daniel Blumberg

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
control - general
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Batrachedra amydraula	Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera)	Israel
Bacillus thuringiensis (entomopathogen)	Batrachedra amydraula	Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera)	Israel