Kamil Karut

The potential of the hatay population ofPhytoseiulus persimilis to control the carmine spider miteTetranychus cinnabarinus in strawberry in Silifke - Icel, Turkey

The Hatay population of the predatory mitePhytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot was released into a commercial field of cv. ‘Chandler’ strawberries for the control ofTetranychus cinnabarinus Boisduval (Acari: Phytoseiidae: Tetranychidae) in 2000 and 2001 in Silifke county of Icel on the East Mediterranean coast of Turkey. In 2000, populations ofT. cinnabarinus were recorded in the field from the beginning of March in most plots, and increased gradually until mid-May.T. cinnabarinus populations declined to very low levels in all predator release plots approximately 2 weeks after reaching a peak. In general, predator populations rose linearly as the population densities of spider mites increased until mid-May.P. persimilis numbers peaked during the period 16–23 May. A similar scenario developed in 2001, but because of the relatively high number ofT. cinnabarinus in all plots at the beginning of the experiment, bothT. cinnabarinus andP. persimilis peaked almost one month earlier than in 2000. In both years, the Hatay population ofP. persimilis demonstrated good potential for the control ofT. cinnabarinus in field-grown strawberry in the Silifke region of Icel.

Indigenous populations of Neoseiulus californicus and Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae): single and combined releases against Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) on greenhouse eggplant

Greenhouse experiments were conducted in the Fall of 2010 and Spring of 2011 to determine the effectiveness of single and combined releases of Turkish populations of two predatory mite species, Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot and Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor), for control of two spotted spider mite (red form) (Tetranychus urticae Koch) on eggplant. The same number of predators was released into cages in a greenhouse with similar numbers of spider mites. The control treatment had significantly higher numbers of T. urticae in both years except for 2010 when the N. californicus single treatment was not different. Among the predator release treatments, the lowest total mean number of T. urticae was found in the P. persimilis single releases in both seasons. These means were followed by the combined predatory mite and the N. californicus single release in 2011. In both years, P. persimilis numbers in both the single and combined treatments were significantly higher than the numbers of N. californicus, except in the N. californicus single treatment in 2011. Overall, releasing N. californicus either alone or in combination with P. persimilis did not show any improvement in controlling to T. urticae on greenhouse eggplant when compared to the release of P. persimilis alone.

Four new records and two new species of Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) from Turkey, with a key to the Turkish species

Four species of phytoseiid mites namely Neoseiulus knappi Zannou, Moraes, Ueckermann & Oliveira, Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) octogenipilus Kreiter, Tixier & Duso, Typhlodromus (T.) phialatus Athias-Henriot, and Typhloseiella isotricha (Athias-Henriot) are recorded for the first time from Turkey. Two new species Neoseiulus sekeroglui Döker & Stathakis n. sp. and Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) antakyaensis Stathakis & Döker n. sp. are described and illustrated. A key to the all known phytoseiid species for the Turkish fauna is also provided.

Functional response and fecundity of a native Neoseiulus californicus population to Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Phytoseiidae, Tetranychidae) at extreme humidity conditions

Abstract The effects of the extreme (30±2, 50±2, 90±2%) and a common (70±2%) relative humidity (RH) levels on functional response and fecundity of Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) were studied at a constant temperature 25±1 °C and 16:8 L:D photoperiod. In the experiments, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 T. urticae eggs were given to the predatory mite for 24 hours. According to logistic regression analysis, N. californicus showed a Type II functional response at all RH levels. The attack rate (α) and the handling time (Th) of Type II response were calculated by fitting Holling Disc Equation to the data. These two coefficients were varied depending on the RH. The highest and the shortest, α and Th values were determined to be 1.636 and 0.031 at 50 and 70% RHs, respectively. While the lowest average daily mean numbers of eggs laid by N. californicus was found to be 0.33 at 30% RH and five prey density, the highest value was determined to be 3.10 at 70% RH and 80 prey density. Although, performance of N. californicus was influenced by the extreme RHs, the predator had successfully continued predation and oviposition activities under those conditions. Therefore, the N. californicus population should be included in augmentative biological control programs in which considerable range of humidity fluctuations is expected.

Natural parasitism ofChrysoperla carnea by hymenopterous parasitoids in cotton-growing areas of Çukurova, Turkey

A 4-year study of parasitoids attackingChrysoperla carnea (Stephens) in the cotton fields of Çukurova, Turkey, revealed the activities of three principal taxa:Telenomus sp. nr.suvae attacks the eggs ofC. carnea: Catolaccus sp. andBaryscapus sp. are larval and pupal parasitoids, respectively. In general, percent egg parasitism increased starting from the second half of June and into July, then decreased until the beginning of August before rising again at the end of growing season. During the early season, weekly parasitism was found to be as high as 94%. Overall, seasonal egg parasitism varied between 13.6% and 62.0% among all study sites. According to the results of a one-year field study at Hacıali, total larval and pupal parasitism was found to be 12.5% and 55.6%, respectively. Therefore, different factors influencing the effectiveness of the generalist predatorC. carnea against cotton pests, and the differential effects of cotton treatments on both host and parasitoids, need to be evaluated.

A SURVEY OF SIZES AND WEIGHTS OF BEMISIA TABACI (HOMOPTERA:ALEYRODIDAE)B BIOTYPE LIFE STAGES FROM FIELD GROWN COTTON AND CANTALOUPES

Abstract Size and weight measurements were made for all the life stages of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) B biotype from field grown cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L., var. cantalupensis) in Phoenix, AZ and Fargo, ND, USA in 2000 and 2001. Nymphal volumes were derived from the measurements. The average nymphal volume increase for settled 1 st to the late 4th instar was exponential. The greatest increase in body volume occurred during development from the 3rd to early 4th instar. Nymphs on cotton leaves were wider, but not longer compared with those on cantaloupe. Ventral and dorsal depth ratios of nymphal bodies from 1 st to late 4th instars from cantaloupe leaves were significantly greater compared with those from cotton leaves. During nymphal development from 1st to 4th instar, the average (from the two host species) ventral body half volume increased by nearly 51 times compared with an increase of 28 times for the dorsal body half volume. Adult female and male average lengths, from heads to wing tips, were 1 126 μm and 953 μm, respectively. Average adult female and male weights were 39 and 17 μg, respectively. Average widths, lengths, and weights of eggs from cotton and cantaloupe were, 99 μm, 197 μm, and 0.8 μg, respectively. Average widths, lengths, and weights for exuviae of non‐parasitized nymphs from both cotton and cantaloupe were 492 μm, 673 μm, and 1.20 μg, respectively; and widths, lengths, and weights of parasitized nymph exuviae were 452 μm, 665 μm, and 3.62 μg, respectively. Both exuviae from non‐parasitized and parasitized nymphs from cotton leaves were wider, longer, and heavier than those from cantaloupe leaves.

Analysis of Species, Subgroups, and Endosymbionts of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) From Southwestern Cotton Fields in Turkey

Abstract Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is one of the most important insect pests worldwide including Turkey. Although there are substantial data regarding species composition of Turkish B. tabaci populations, the situation is still not clear and further investigations are needed. Therefore, in this study, species and subgroups of B. tabaci collected from cotton fields in southwestern part of Turkey (Antalya, Aydın, Denizli, and Muğla) were determined using microsatellite analysis, AluI-based mtCOI polymerase chain reaction–random length polymorphism, and sequencing. Secondary endosymbionts were also determined using diagnostic species-specific PCR. Middle East Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1), Mediterranean (MED) Q1, and MED Q2 were the species and subgroups found in this study. The MED species (85.3%) were found to be more dominant than MEAM1. Species status of B. tabaci varied depending on the location. Although all samples collected from Aydın were found to be Q1, three species and subgroups were found in Muğla. Secondary endosymbionts varied according to species and subgroups. Arsenophonus was found only from Q2, while Hamiltonella was detected in MEAM1 and Q1. In addition, high Rickettsia and low Wolbachia infections were detected in MEAM1 and Q1 populations, respectively. In conclusion, for the first time, we report the presence and symbiotic communities of Q1 from Turkey. We also found that the symbiont complement of the Q1 is more congruent with Q1 from Greece than other regions of the world, which may have some interesting implications for movement of this invasive subgroup.

A new species and two new records of the family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) from Turkey

Phytoseius ibrahimi Döker & Kazak sp. nov. is described and illustrated. The genus Paragigagnathus Amitai & Grinberg, represented by P. insuetus (Livshitz & Kuznetsov), and Neoseiulus neomarginatus Stathakis, Kapaxidi & Papadoulis, are recorded from Turkey for the first time. Identification keys for the Turkish species of Phytoseius Ribaga and Neoseiulus Hughes are provided.

Study on species composition of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius, 1889) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) on cotton in Çukurova plain, Turkey

The whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius, 1889) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is one of the most important pest species on cotton in the Çukurova Plain as well as in all cotton growing areas of Turkey. Although numerous studies on population dynamics, population development and parasitism were conducted on B. tabaci in the Çukurova Plain, there has been a few studies on the species complex of B. tabaci for this region. The aims of this study were to present genetic polymorphism and species composition of B. tabaci collected from cotton fields of Çukurova Plain of Turkey between 2006 and 2011 (except 2010). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products were generated from a mitochondrial gene, cytochrome oxidase I (COI), and a nuclear gene region (ITS1). PCR products were purified and sequenced. Maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian analyses were used to estimate trees. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method was also applied to support results of sequence analysis and differentiating the MED and MEAM1 species of B. tabaci populations. From 51 sequences 38 of them were determined as B. tabaci MED species, and 13 of them were B. tabaci MEAM1. All samples collected in 2006 were placed in the B. tabaci MEAM1 clade with some samples collected in 2011. All PCR products were studied by RFLP method and we were able to differentiate MED and MEAM1 species of B. tabaci. MED species was determined as dominant on cotton in Çukurova Plain of Turkey.

Three new species of the family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) from Turkey

Three new species of the family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) are described and illustrated based on female specimens collected from various plants in Turkey-Eharius denizliensis Döker & Kazak sp. nov., Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) karaisaliensis Döker & Kazak sp. nov. and Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) papadoulisi Döker & Kazak sp. nov.