Occurrence and impact ofPhytomyza orobanchia [Diptera: Agromyzidae] onOrobanche crenata [Orobanchaceae] in Syria

Abstract

A survey was carried out in 1988 to determine the occurrence and distribution of the flyPhytomyza orobanchia Kaltenbach [Diptera: Agromyzidae] on broomrape (Orobanche crenata Forskal) at 21 locations in northwestern Syria. Fruit capsules of broomrape were examined in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) fields. The fly was present at 95% of the locations sampled. Of 630 broomrape plants examined over all locations, 55.5% were infested. Of the 1,890 capsules examined, 32.5% were attacked. Fly populations were highest near the coast where 79% of the broomrapes were damaged. The total seed output of broomrape plants was reduced by 29.4% in the surveyed area due to a mean seed destruction of 91.1% per infested broomrape capsule.