Morphological variation among Iranian populations of the Carob Moth,Ectomyelois ceratoniae(Zeller, 1839) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

The Carob moth (Ectomyelois ceratoniae) is the most important pest of pomegranates in Iran. In order to evaluate the morphological variation of the pest among different geographic populations, the larvae were collected from infested pomegranates at 14 localities in Iran and reared to adult. Using the landmark-based geometric morphometrics method, variation in wing shape and size and allometric relationships were documented. Mantel tests showed a general correlation between geographic and morphological distances. Some morphological distances with the greatest deviation from this correlation were detected using regression fitted line, and the probable causal factors (e.g. reduced gene flow, isolation) on morphological distances are discussed.