BIOECOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF <i>DYSGONIA ALGIRA (LEPIDOPTERA, NOCTUIDAE)</i> ON THE POMEGRANATE
Azerbaijan is one of the centers of origin and cultivation of some valuable subtropical plants. It has the best soil and climatic conditions in the Palearctic, as well as possibilities for subtropical plant’s commercial cultivation, pomegranate has a special place among these plants. Currently, about a one third of all industrial plantations of the pomegranate in CIS countries are concentrated in Azerbaijan. This valuable plant is constantly threatened by various pests, which causes to large losses amongst pomegranate harvests. This article deals with the bioecology and some physiological characteristics of one of the most dan- gerous pests of pomegranate on the Apsheron peninsula. The phenology and some physiological parameters of the Dysgonia (=Ophiusa) algira L., growing on pomegranates have been studied for the first time. It has been revealed that in this pest of Apsheron peninsula on pomegranate trees growing in 2 incomplete generations. It is hibernates at the pupal stage. The first but- terflies start flying from the second decade of May, while the output of the first generation of larvae occurs in the first decade of June. Caterpillar phase consists from the six ages (generations). The first age is differed by the presence of summer diapause in the pupal stage of development. Summer pupal diapause lasts from late June to late July. The development of the second generation of pests occurs in the second decade of August. The second generation may be characterized by considerably elon- gated caterpillar phase - from the third decade of August to the second decade of October. Mass pupation of caterpillars on the pomegranate tree during their second generation is marked on 13 October. Meanwhile the duration of stage pronymph second generation depends on the date of lay. Typically, this period covers the 8-12 days. But only 30 % of individuals pupate, the remaining tracks are transparent web cocoon (October 20). In late October, these individuals formed the state of physiological rest to the end of November. Pupae, obtained from early clutch (second decade of August) complete diapause and wintering most successfully.