Nutritional indices and food utilization of tomato fruit worm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner, 1808) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on ten tomato cultivars

Nutritional performance of the larval stages (fourth, fifth, and sixth instars) of Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on unripe green fruit of ten tomato cultivars, including ‘Aras’, ‘Atrak’, ‘Korall’, ‘Mobil’, ‘Rio Grande Hed’, ‘Sivand’, ‘Super Chief’, ‘Super Mobil’, ‘Super Queen’ and ‘Super Urbana’, was studied at 26±1°C, 60±10% RH and a photoperiod of 16:8 L:D. Approximate digestibility values of the fourth instar larvae were highest (98.239±0.026%) and lowest (95.733±0.056%) on ‘Atrak’ and ‘Super Chief’, respectively. Fifth instar larvae fed on ‘Mobil’ showed the highest relative growth rate (RGR) and relative consumption rate (RCR) (0.316±0.038% and 7.369±0.669%, respectively). Approximate digestibility (AD) values of the sixth instar larvae were highest (96.264±0.114%) and lowest (92.349±0.120%) on ‘Super Chief’ and ‘Super Queen’, respectively. The highest ECI and ECD values of total larval instars (4th, 5th and 6th instars) was observed on ‘Rio Grande Hed’ (4.364±0.093% and 4.593±0.105%, respectively) and the lowest of both values was on ‘Super Urbana’ (3.034±0.021% and 3.187±0.022%, respectively).  The results of nutritional indices and the cluster analysis indicated that ‘Sivand’ and ‘Super Queen’ were unsuitable hosts for feeding of H. armigera among tested cultivars

Taeniothrips eucharii (Whetzel) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae): a newly recorded species on rangeland plants in Iran

The genus Taeniothrips Amyot & Serville is belonging in the subfamily Thripinae with only one species in Iran. Here, the second species, T. eucharii (Whetzel) is newly recorded from the country. Male and female specimens of this species have been collected on the flowers of Ixiolirion tataricum (Amaryllidaceae) from Ilam province (west of Iran)