Determination of Harmful and Beneficial Predator Insect Species and the Distribution and Density of Eurygaster Integriceps Puton (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) in Wheat-Cultivated Areas of Siirt Province

Abstract

Wheat is nowadays the most important source of food on earth. Many pest species have been identified that affect wheat yield and quality negatively. This study was conducted to identify harmful and beneficial insect (predator) species and of the distribution of Sunn pest in wheat cultivation areas in the districts (Siirt province Merkez, Kurtalan, Eruh, Tillo, Şirvan, Pervari, and Baykan) of Siirt Province, Türkiye in 2018 and 2019. Samplings were taken periodically for 1-2 weeks from April to July. The sweep nets, frame, pitfall trap, and visual control methods were used for sampling. At the end of the study, 42 species belonging to 6 orders and 25 families were determined. The distributions of the species were recorded as 27 species belonging to 12 families in Coleoptera, 10 species belonging to 7 families in Hemiptera, 2 species belonging to 2 families in Neuroptera, and 1 species belonging to each family in Hymenoptera, Orthoptera and Diptera. The most common and abundant species: the main pest Eurygaster integriceps Puton, 1881 (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae), the secondary pests Aelia acuminata (Linnaeus, 1758), Dolycoris baccarum (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), Cephus pygmaeus (Linnaeus, 1767) (Hymenoptera: Cephidae) Gryllus bimaculatus De Geer, 1773, (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) were determined. In the study, a total of 16 species were identified, which is the first record for the local fauna of Siirt province. The highest average density of E. integriceps (2 adult + nymph/m2) was found in the Garzan and Gozpinari locations of the Kurtalan district. Besides, among the beneficial species, general predators Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens, 1836) and Coccinella septempunctata (Linnaeus, 1758) are remark as the most common species. © 2023, Plant Protection Central Research Institute. All rights reserved.