Safflower fly, Acanthiophilus helianthi Rossi (Diptera: Tephritidae), undergoes four stages (egg, larva, pupa and adult) during its growth and development. In this study, observation showed that the egg’s stage took 1.16 ± 0.00, larva’s stage took 12.02 ± 0.13 and pupa’s stage took 7.03 ± 0.08 days before the emergence of adults. The male adult survived for 21.97 ± 2.69 days, while the female lived 19.19 ± 1.50 days. It was observed that the eggs were laid in a cluster, with a range between 10 – 50 eggs per cluster. The length and width of the individual egg were 1.12 ± 0.03 mm and 0.20 ± 0.00 mm respectively. The percentages of the survived individual larva decreased from the first instar until third instar. In the experiment, the length and width of the larva reached 7.77 ± 0.08 mm and 1.84 ± 0.03 mm respectively. Pupae were observed changing in colour from pale white to dark brown. The length and the width of the pupae observed were 6.78 ± 0.16 mm and 2.90 ± 0.02 mm. The longevity of the adults Acanthiophilus helianthi Rossi was influenced by the diets they consumed, the presence of other individuals, wideness of the areas, differences in time taken within the life cycle (between different stages) and temperature in the laboratory.

Safflower fly, Acanthiophilus helianthi Rossi (Diptera: Tephritidae), undergoes four stages (egg, larva, pupa and adult) during its growth and development. In this study, observation showed that the egg's stage took 1.16 ± 0.00, larva's stage took 12.02 ± 0.13 and pupa's stage took 7.03 ± 0.08 days before the emergence of adults. The male adult survived for 21.97 ± 2.69 days, while the female lived 19.19 ± 1.50 days. It was observed that the eggs were laid in a cluster, with a range between 10 -50 eggs per cluster. The length and width of the individual egg were 1.12 ± 0.03 mm and 0.20 ± 0.00 mm respectively. The percentages of the survived individual larva decreased from the first instar until third instar. In the experiment, the length and width of the larva reached 7.77 ± 0.08 mm and 1.84 ± 0.03 mm respectively. Pupae were observed changing in colour from pale white to dark brown. The length and the width of the pupae observed were 6.78 ± 0.16 mm and 2.90 ± 0.02 mm. The longevity of the adults Acanthiophilus helianthi Rossi was influenced by the diets they consumed, the presence of other individuals, wideness of the areas, differences in time taken within the life cycle (between different stages) and temperature in the laboratory.

The present research conducted to see the biodiversity of insects in warm and cool areas from March to April in 2009 at the Gachsaran Agricultural Research Station. A total number of 4261 specimens, which were identified into 31 families and 92 species. Out of total 31 families collected, 10 families were pests, 2 families belongs to predators and beneficial insects and 7 families belongs to parasitoids and beneficial insects and finally, 12 families of insects are saprophage and polyphagous. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the number of insects collected between months. The mean number of insects collected in the month of March, April and May was 34.7, 30.7 and 36.2 respectively. The Basht area is most susceptible host for insects (37.9), while the Gachsaran and Lishter areas is less susceptible (33.5) and (28.4) so both sites not differ significantly in the population of insects. The family Coccinellidae had more population in the Gachsaran-safflower zone (98.3) than the Basht-safflower zone (54.6) and it was significantly similar to the family cicadellidae. Similarly, different families like Aphididae (98.0), Cicadellidae (74), Thripidae (50.0), Curculionidae (26.6), Noctuidae (25.0) and Torymidae (27.3) had higher population in the Gachsaran-safflower zone than in the Basht-safflower area with means of 92.3, 63.0, 42.6, 21.0, 21.6 and 19.3 respectively. Also the families like Nymphalide, Pieridae, Lygaeidae, Papilionidae, Miridae, Pentatomidae, Reduviidae, Geometridae, Gryllotalpidae, Mantidae, Acrididae, Saturnidae and Anthocoridae had mean population of 12.6, 7.4, 12.0, 4.1, 4.4, 8.6, 1.9, 0.5, 7.5, 2.4, 11.3, 3.3 and 8.9.

Oilseeds such as flax, canola, safflower, soybean and sunflower, which are annual plants, provide the world’s major source of vegetable oils, although the highest oil yield comes from oil-bearing tree fruits. One of the most popular oil seeds is safflower (<em>Carthamus tinctorius</em> L.), which belongs to the Asteraceae family. Due to the ability of this plant to grow in dry and semi-dry conditions, safflower oil has the potential to be a commercially profitable product in Iran. Seasonal populations of safflower capsule flies were studied in Kohgiluyeh safflower farms, Iran, from March to May in 2008 and 2009. Four yellow sticky traps were used to monitor populations of fruit flies in the safflower farms. Traps were checked once a week during the sampling period. The traps were emptied weekly into insect collection vials containing 70% ethanol. Data were analysed with a two-way ANOVA. The relation between abiotic factors and species abundance was analysed with multiple linear regression. The results emphasized that <em>Acanthiophilus helianthi</em> was the most serious pest of safflower under the ecological conditions found in Gachsaran, being present in the field throughout three months of the year (March to May). <em>Chaetorellia carthami</em> was present in safflower fields from March to May, but in significant numbers only during April and May. <em>Terellia</em> <em>luteola</em> was present in safflower fields from March to May and in significant numbers only in late April, it does not seem to be a serious pest in safflower farms under Gachsaran’s ecological conditions.