THE INFESTATION PERCENTAGE OF THE GREAT POLLEN ARENIPSES SABELLA HAMPS (PYRALIDAE: LEPIDOPTERA) ON CULTIVARS DATE PALM TREES IN SOUTH OF IRAQ

The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is a very important economic crop in Iraq, Palm trees are attacked by a large number of insect pests in all their parts, causing them sometimes serious and great damage, represented in the weakness of the palm, which leads to a decrease in its productivity of dates in terms of quality and quantity. This study was conducted to find out the rate of infestation and economic loss caused by the infestation of the Great Pollen Arenipses sabella Hamps (Pyralidae: Lepidoptera) on date palm trees, Phoenix dactylifera L, Barhi cultivar, in Abu Al-Khasib area, Basra Governorate, during the 2020 season. the results showed that the highest infestation rate was in the Al-Barhi cultivar, which amounted to 50.77%, while the infestation of the Al-Sayer cultivar was 49.09%, with a significant difference from the infection rate of the Al-Halawi cultivar, which amounted to 43.81%, which recorded the lowest infestation with the great pollen worm, , the infection rate was 50.77% and 49.09%, respectively, while the lowest rate of infection was recorded on Al-Halawi cultivar, with a significant difference from the two previously mentioned cultivars, amounting to 43.81%, and the general average of the date palm infestation level was 47.89 %.