Population dynamics of safflower capsule flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Kohgiluyeh safflower farms of Iran

Oilseeds such as flax, canaola, safflower, soybean and sunflower, which are annual plants, provide the world’s major source of vegetable oils although the highest oil yield is from oil-bearing tree fruits. One of the highly popular oil seeds is safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), which belongs to the Asteraceae family. Due to the capability of the plant for propagation in dry and semi-dry lands, safflower has the potential to be a commercially profitable product in Iran. Seasonal populations of safflower capsule flies were studied in Kohgiluyeh safflower farms of Iran from March to May in 2008 and 2009. Four yellow sticky traps were used to monitor populations of fruit flies, in the safflower farm. Traps were checked once a week during the sampling period. The traps were emptied weekly into insect collection vials containing 70% ethanol. Data were analyzed with a Two-Way ANOVA. The correlation between abiotic factors and species abundances was analyzed with Multiple linear regression. The results emphasized that Acanthiophilus helianthi was the most serious pest of safflower under the ecological conditions of Gachsaran. It was present in the field throughout the three months (March to May) of the year. Chaetorellia carthami was present in the safflower field from March to May but in reasonable numbers only in April and May. Terellia luteola was present in the safflower field from March to May and in reasonable numbers only in late April. This species does not seem to be a serious safflower farms pest under Gachsaran ecological conditions.

Acanthiophilus helianthi; Chaetorellia carthami; Terellia luteola; population fluctuation; Kohgiluyeh va Boyerahmad province