Population Dynamics of the Gypsy Moth, Lymantria dispar L. (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) in Yasuj, Iran

Research was conducted in Yasuj region to determine population changes of the gypsy moth in 2006 and 2007. Also it was aimed to calculate the correlation coefficient between the population densities of 2006 and 2007, in order to build a predictive model for the pest. The number of overwintering egg masses was counted during the winter months in ten different orchards. The number of egg masses of the pest was recorded at weekly intervals in ten orchards during the growth seasons in 2006 and 2007. Results indicated that the egg mass densities were 1.72 and 3.67 per fifty squares meter and 342 and 576 egg masses per hectar in winters 2006 and 2007, respectively. Regression analysis of the pest population density in 2006 and 2007 indicated that only 32.37% of the 2007 population variance could be accounted for the population density in 2006. It was obvious that more than 68% of the population changes are under the influence of unknown biotic and abiotic environmental factors.

Dynamism, Population, Gypsy moth, Yasouj