Background The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae (Koch) (Acari: Tetranychidae), is a widely distributed plant-feeding pest that causes significant yield losses in a wide range of crops. Newly developed or improved environmentally friendly biocontrol agents serve as an alternative to traditional pest control tools. Experiment of the effects of 2 local fungal isolates of Beauveria bassiana (BGF14 and BCA32) was carried out against T. urticae under laboratory conditions. Results Both tested isolates had lethal effect in a short time after application, and this effect increased as time progressed. BGF14 and BCA32 isolates caused T. urticae mortality rates ranging from 25.88 to 61.92 and 32.36 to 62.03% when applied at the concentrations between 1×105 and 1×108 conidia/ml, respectively. According to the Probit analysis performed on the effect of fungi on T. urticae adults, the LC50 values of BGF14 and BCA32 isolates on the 7th day after inoculation were 2.6×106 and 6.3×104 conidia/ml, respectively, and the LT50 values for both fungi applied at a concentration of 108 conidia/ml were 2.14 and 2.23 days, respectively. Conclusions The 2 isolates of B. bassiana (BGF14 and BCA32) had the potentials to suppress T. urticae population and can be recommended as promising biocontrol agent candidates for control of T. urticae.

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This study was conducted to survey the distribution and density of lucerne leaf beetle [(Gonioctena fornicata (Brüggemann, 1873) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)] in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivation areas in Bolu, Zonguldak and Bartın provinces between 2017 and 2019. It was determined that the prevalence of Gonioctena fornicata was 100% in three provinces where studies were conducted in 2017. It was observed that the rate of infestation of G. fornicata started at 2.24% in 2018, and rose to 44.82% in 2018. In 2019 infestation rate began at 1.48% and rose to 36.86%. It has been determined that the infestation that started with the end of March continued until the end of June. This study highlights the infestation time and distribution of G. fornicata in the provinces of the Western Black Sea Region, and can serve as a building block for further investigations of G. fornicata's distribution in the area.

The potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is an important pest of potato that causes yield losses in potato producing countries all over the world. Many management methods are available for reducing this pest populations. Chemical control methods are at the top of these. However, Entomopathogenic nematode (EPNs), can be used as a potential alternative to chemical insecticides to control potato tuber moth larvae as an eco-friendly management method. We aimed in this study to examine the efficacy of Turkish isolates of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora against the last instar larvae (fourth stage) of the potato tuber moth under laboratory conditions. Experiments were conducted in 150 milliliter plastic cups with sterile soil mixture. Four nematode concentrations (0, 250, 500 and 1000 IJs) were applied directly to the soil. Potato tuber moth was susceptible to different concentrations of the H. bacteriophora isolate. All doses were more effective than the control (water). The most effective was the 1000 IJs concentratio, providing a high mortality rate of the last instar larvae of potato tuber moth. No statistically significant difference was observed among temperatures. These results indicated that this H. bacteriophora isolate is very efficient and could be used against potato tuber moth in biological control programs.

Bu çalışma, Rize iline ait ilçelerdeki çay bahçelerinde bulunan akar türlerini tespit etmek amacıyla 2017-2019 yılları arasında gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışma süresince, 9 ilçede tesadüfi örnekleme yöntemi ile çay bitkisinin 1., 2. ve 3. sürgün dönemine denk gelecek şekilde Mayıs-Eylül ayları arasında sürvey çalışmaları yürütülmüştür. Çalışma süresince, 1. sürgün döneminde 9 ilçede toplam 73 çay bahçesinde, 2. sürgün döneminde 107 çay bahçesinde ve 3. sürgün döneminde ise 97 çay bahçesinde arazi çalışmaları yapılmış ve çay örnekleri toplanmıştır. Çalışma sonunda en yaygın ve en yüksek sayıda tespit edilen tür Sarı çay akarı olmuştur. Belirlenen diğer akarlar ise; Calacarus carinatus, Brevipalpus phoenicis, Tydeus californicus, Neoseiulus californicus, Czenspinskia transversostriata, Tuckerella sp., ve Oribatida türleridir. Bu çalışmada bulunan akarlar, farklı fenolojik dönemler hakkında bilgi eksikliğini giderecek nitelikte olup, daha önceki yıllarda yapılan çalışmalarla bütünleşecek şekilde tamamlanmıştır.

Thripsler, birçok endüstriyel üründe önemli verim kayıplarına neden olur. Bu zararlılar Türkiye'deki karantina organizmaları arasında yer aldığından, etmenlerin hızlı tespiti yeni alanlara yayılmalarını önlemek için önemlidir. Mitokondriyal sitokrom oksidaz I (COI) barkodlama geninin analizleri; moleküler yöntemlerden biri olarak Thrips teşhislerinde yaygın olarak kullanılmaktadır. Ancak COI geninin fragman uzunluğu çok kısa olduğundan, PCR sonrası agaroz jel üzerinde fragman boyutlarını ayırt etmek çok zordur. Bu çalışmada, daha önce farklı araştırmacılar tarafından kullanılan primer çiftleri kullanılarak Thrips tabaci, Frankliniella occidentalis ve F. intonsa türleri için Kapiler Jel Elektroforez (CGE) sistemi entegre edilerek yeni bir tanımlama yöntemi geliştirilmiştir. Analiz, özellikle kısa parça uzunluklu COI geninde birbirine yakın parça uzunluklarının ayrılmasında hata payını en aza indirerek, elde edilmiş güçlü sinyaller üretir. Bu sebeple, jel elektroforezi adımı ortadan kaldırılarak, tehlikeli kimyasallara maruz kalmadan güvenilir tespitler elde edildi. Yeni yöntem, tespit süresini kısalttı ve düşük DNA konsantrasyonuna sahip tek bir Thrips'in saptanmasındaki işlem hatalarınıda en aza indirdi. Bu kapiler jel elektroforezi tabanlı fragman analizi ile toplam 82 Trips bireyi (52 F. intonsa, 31 F. occidentalis) tespit edilebilmiştir. Yeni yöntem, üç farklı Thrips türünün tespiti için benzersiz, spesifik ve hızlı olarak değerlendirilmektedir. Ayrıca yakın gelecekte kısa fragman boyutlarına sahip farklı Thrips türlerinin tanımlanmasında da kullanılabileceği düşünülmektedir.

The European sunflower moth [Homoeosoma nebulellum (Denis&Schiffermüller)] (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is one of the most important sunflower pest in Turkey. Concerning the parasitoids of this pest, the only one study was conducted in Turkey. The aim of this study is the identification of the parasitoids of the European sunflower moth. Bracon hebetor (Say.), B. trucidator (Marshall), B. pectoralis (Wesmael) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Exeristes roborator F. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) were found as natural enemies. Bracon pectoralis was determined for the first time on the European sunflower moth in the world. Moreover, it was found that B. hebetor was more common among the other parasites and the rate of parasitism was high. Parasitism rate was estimated 9-30% and 0-6.6% in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

This study was carried out to determine the damage of the European sunflower moth [Homoeosoma nebulellum (Den. & Schiff.)] to sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cultivation areas in Ankara and the relationship of Homoeosoma nebulellum (Den. & Schiff.) to Head rot disease (Rhizopus spp.) that causes loss of yield in sunflower between 2013-2014. Data were collected from Ayaş, Bala, Beypazarı and Kalecik districts between 2013 and 2014 where sunflower cultivation is predominant. The prevalence of H. nebulellum was observed as 100% for both years. The pest infestation rate was determined as 3.74% and 3.80% in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Rhizopus stolonifer (Ehrenb.) Vuill. was observed as the species that causes head rot disease in Ankara, and its prevalence was 76.68% and 70.42% in 2013 and 2014, respectively. The transmission rate of this disease was determined as 4.08% and 4.04% in 2013 and 2014, respectively. When the Chi-square correlation coefficient test was applied to the obtained results, a 72.4% relationship was determined between the pest and the disease. This study shows that the European sunflower moth is not only the main cause of damage to sunflower but also an important factor in the infestation of head rot disease.