Nimet Sema Gençer

Olfactory response of the ladybird beetle Stethorus gilvifrons to two preys and herbivore-induced plant volatiles

The spider mites Tetranychus urticae Koch and Panonychus ulmi (Koch) (Tetranychidae) cause severe economic losses to vegetable farms and deciduous fruit orchards in Turkey. One of their predators, the ladybird beetle Stethorus gilvifrons (Muls.) (Col., Coccinellidae), aggregates on mite-infested patches of plants. The present study assessed whether there is a role for herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) and/or odors emitted directly from these two mite species in the aggregative response of ladybird beetles. The olfactory responses of the predator females to volatiles from T. urticae- and/or P. ulmi-infested sweet pepper (four cultivars, viz. ‘Demre’, ‘Yalova Carliston’, ‘Kandil Dolma’ and ‘Yag Biberi’), kidney bean (cv. ‘Barbunya’) and apple (M9 rootstock) were investigated using a two-choice olfactometer. Our results showed that HIPVs emitted from both T. urticae- and P. ulmi-infested plants significantly attracted S. gilvifrons adults for all plants except the sweet pepper cv. Yag Biberi. In addition, it was found that volatiles from apple plants infested by T. urticae and, especially, P. ulmi are more attractive for S. gilvifrons females than those emitted by other infested plants. The results also suggest that the odors of T. urticae adults and their products might influence the attraction of S. gilvifrons females.

Resistance to chlorpyrifos and lambda-cyhalothrin along with detoxifying enzyme activities in field-collected female populations of European red mite

The levels of susceptibility of populations of the European red mite Panonychus ulmi (Koch) (Acarina: Tetranychidae) collected from apple orchards in the Bursa region of Turkey to the insecticides chlorpyrifos and lambda-cyhalothrin, were determined by a petri leaf disk—Potter spray tower method. When compared with the susceptible population, resistance ratios at the LC50 level ranged from 6.0- to 35.6-fold, and from 0.7- to 5.7-fold for chlorpyrifos and lambda-cyhalothrin, respectively. Kinetic parameters of general esterase activity with α-naphthyl acetate as substrate indicated that an increased activity was present in the resistant populations compared with the susceptible populations. In these strains, 1.5- and 2.2-fold higher Glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity was also detected with the substrate 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. General esterase activity gel profiles of these populations were studied by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, but no relationship between resistance ratios and band patterns was detected. The results of this study document a decreased efficacy of chlorpyrifos and lambda-cyhalothrin in field populations of P. ulmi in Turkey, possibly linked to altered activities of esterases and GST.

The colonization preference and population trends of larval fig psylla, Homotoma ficus L. (Hemiptera: Homotomidae)

The colonization preference and population trends of larval fig psylla Homotoma ficus L. were studied in Bursa, northwestern Turkey, from March 2000 to July 2001. Homotoma ficus overwintered at the egg stage on terminal buds and lenticels of shoots. Larval emergence occurred on 30th and 11th March in 2000 and 2001, respectively. Degree-day (DD) accumulations since 1st January indicate that the emergence of first larvae averaged 47 DD based on the larval developmental threshold of 10.9°C. Although the population trends of Homotoma ficus larvae were affected by temperature and rainfall, there was only significant relationship between larval abundance and temperature. The first instar larvae significantly preferred the bottom and the inside stipule of leaves. The second instar larvae distributed not only on expanding green tissues but also on both the upper and lower surface of leaves corresponding to the fig bud development period. Third to fifth instars colonized significantly greater on the bottom of leaves compared with the stipule and upper surface. In addition, significant linear relationship was found between fig phenology and cumulative larval counts. The importance of the colonization preference of larval instars and the use of fig phenology as well as DD for timing of insecticide treatments are discussed.

Species composition, seasonal dynamics and numerical responses of arthropod predators in organic strawberry fields

Abstract The species composition and relative abundance of predatory arthropod fauna were studied in organic strawberry fields in northwestern Turkey using sweep net sampling and pitfall trapping (activity density). Arachnida constituted 13.1 and 11.5% of the sweep net and pitfall trap catches, respectively. Among the predatory insects, the most abundant groups were Heteroptera (26.7%), Diptera (25.9%), Coleoptera (16.9%) and Orthoptera (10.8%) in sweep net samples. Coleoptera (84.2%) dominated the pitfall trap catches. Many aphid specific and polyphagous predators reached peak abundance during June and July. Pearsons two-tailed correlations showed a significant and positive relationship between syrphid, coccinellid or chrysopid predator numbers and strawberry aphid density. Aphid density was not significantly correlated with carabid or with nabid abundance. Examination of spatial distribution patterns of all predatory arthropod groups using Taylors Power Law indicated that most arthropod predators, except carabids, exhibited aggregated dispersion patterns. Coccinellids changed their spatial patterns from a uniform to an aggregated distribution through the season. There was also a significant linear correlation between Anterastes sp. abundance (larvae+adults) and Isophya rectipennis+Poecilimon ricteri (larvae+adults) density at both locations. We observed, for the first time, Anterastes preying on Isophya and Poecilimon species. The seasonal abundance of the major predatory groups were described, and their potential importance in controlling strawberry aphid and other pests is discussed.