Importance and seasonal population dynamics of great date moth Arenipses sabella Hampson (1901) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Jordan Valley

Field trips were conducted at two date palm farms in Jordan Valley from April, 1999 to December, 2000. In addition, random observations for field pest status from 2001 to 2014 were carried out, in order to show economic and pest status, and the population trends of the great date moth. Diagnostic characters for the great date moth were provided. Pest status for the great date moth was mentioned with injury descriptions. The great date moth was found to be from the five main insect pests attacking the date palm fruits. Population trends studies on the great date moth in Ghor Kabid and Baquarah Farms, in Jordan Valley, from April, 1999 and August, 2000, were reported. The study showed that there were two generations per year for the great date moth in each of the two farms. The highest peaks of alive larvae showed up for the first generation, which were during April, 1999 and April-May, 2000 in Ghor Kabid Farm and were at late May-early June, 1999 and in 2000 in Baquareh Farm. The highest adult peak occurred in mid-March, 1999 and 2000