PREMATURE FRUIT DROP CAUSED BY EURYTOMA-AMYGDALI (HYMENOPTERA, EURYTOMIDAE) ON 3 ALMOND VARIETIES

A test was conducted to determine the effect of oviposition by Eurytom a amygdali Enderlein on fruit drop on almond trees. Almond twigs of 3 cultivars were oviposited upon either by wasps released on caged almon d twigs or by the natural orchard. population for various periods. Inf ested fruits suffered a heavy premature drop in the ''Texas'' (Mission ) and ''Ferragnes'', but not in ''Truoito''. To control this insect, s ystemic insecticides are used to kill the hatching larvae in the fruit . The current results suggest a change in control strategy, using adul ticidal rather than larvicidal sprays, to prevent oviposition in varie ties susceptible to such fruit drop.