Spatial Distribution of Deudorix livia and Associated Predatory Insects on Pomegranate Manfaloty Cultivar at Assiut Governorate

Deudorix livia (Klug) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) causes substantial damage to pomegranate fruits, leading to significant yield losses. This damage directly impacts the economic viability of pomegranate farming. Studying the spatial distribution of D. livia and its predators is vital for developing effective, sustainable, and environmentally sound pest management strategies in pomegranate orchards. So, the present work aimed to study the spatial distribution patterns of D. livia eggs and predatory insects on the Manfaloty cultivar of pomegranate orchards at Assiut Governorate during 2020 and 2021 growing seasons. Results indicate that a significantly higher average number of D. livia eggs was observed in the western direction across both seasons. The western-south side was the most preferred oviposition site. Statistical analysis reveals significant differences in egg distribution among cardinal directions. Predatory insects collected using yellow sticky traps exhibited varying spatial distributions between the two seasons. In 2020, the western direction showed the highest predator numbers, while in 2021, the northern direction was dominant. The preferred directions for predaceous insects were on the southwestern side and the eastern-northern side in 2020 and 2021, respectively. The current study demonstrates the value of spatial distribution data in enabling precise pest management. Identifying areas of concentrated D. livia populations and the locations of their predatory insects facilitates targeted interventions, thereby enhancing the efficacy of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs and minimizing unnecessary pesticide use.