Relationship between five major phytophaga pests and their natural predatory enemies in pomegranate field

The purpose of this study was to provide a scientific basis for the comprehensive control of pests in pomegranate fields using natural predatory enemies and chemical measures. Through the systematic investigation of the pests and natural predatory enemies in pomegranate fields, the paper identifies Aphis gossypii, Cnidocampa flavescens, Empoasca flavescens, Thosea sinensis and Cryptothelea minuscula as the major phytophaga pests in the hilly pomegranate fields of Jianghuai Area. The relationship in number, time and space between the major pests and their natural predatory enemies was studied through correlation analysis, ecological niche analysis and spatial pattern aggregation intensity index analysis. The comprehensive results show the order of the main natural predatory enemies of the major phytophaga pests as follows — A. gossypii: Harmonia axyridis, Chrysopa sinica and Theridion octomaculatum; C. flavescens: Clubiona japonicola, Misumenops tricuspidatus and Erigonidium graminicolum; E. flavescens: C. japonicola, Tetragnatha maxillosa and T. octomaculatum; T. sinensis: T. maxillosa, T. octomaculatum and C. japonicola; C. minu-scula: M. tricuspidatus, C. japonicola and H. axyridis. The cumulative average (l) of A. gossypii community excesses 2, this is because of the aggregation nature of the insect. On the other hand, the cumulative averages of communities of C. flavescens, E. flavescens, T. sinensis, C. minuscule, and natural predatory enemies are less than 2. This is mainly due to uncertain environmental factors.