Comparison of population density and flight activity time of Meligethes aeneus (Col.: Nitidulidae) in different altitude ranges of Mazandaran (case study: Sari)

Pollen beetle, Meligethes aeneus (Col.: Nitidulidae), is one of the important pests of productive stageof oilseed rape (Brassica napus) in Sari district. During 2009 – 2010, the population density and flightactivity time of this beetle was studied in six altitude ranges of Mazandaran province using color pan trap(Sakalian and Langourov 2004), color sticky trap (Oliver et al., 2004), window trap (Wermelinger et al.,2002 and Barari 2005) and Malaise trap (Townes, 1962). The altitude ranges were Dashte-Naz,Pahnehkola, Alamdardeh, HaftKhal, PoshtKoh and Alikola with 20, 218, 395, 855, 1500 and 1640 mabove sea level, respectively. In total, 10137 of M. aeneus were collected. The population density of thepest in Dashte-Naz, Pahnehkola, Alamdardeh, HaftKhal, PoshtKoh and Alikola was 6.5%, 5.6%, 7.2%,71.4%, 0.4% and 9%, respectively. The highest and lowest population density was found in 855 m range(Haftkhal) and 1500 m range (PoshtKoh), respectively. Furthermore, the peak of flight activity of thebeetle was occurred in early May, late May, late May, early June, Late May and Late June for Dashte-Naz, Pahnehkola, Alamdardeh, HaftKhal, PoshtKoh and Alikola, respectively. These achievements canbe implicated for IPM strategy of oilseed rape pollen beetle.

کلیدواژه ها:

Mazandaran ، Meligethes aeneus ، Pollen beetle