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The European wheat stem sawfly, Cephus pygmeus (Linnaeus, 1767) and the black grain stem sawfly, Trachelus tabidus (Fabricius, 1775) are important and common pests in wheat growing areas of Turkey. These sawfly species continue to be a threat to wheat production in the southeast Anatolia Region of the country. This study was conducted to determine larval infestation rates and yield losses caused by these sawfly species in common wheat cultivars grown in the southeast Anatolia Region. Durum and bread wheat fields were surveyed to record larval infestation and damage caused by these sawfly species in four provinces (Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Mardin and Şanlıurfa) of the region. A total 100 wheat fields were randomly selected and stem samples were taken from each field during the harvest period. Spike length, mean number of grains, grain weight and 1000-grain weight were recorded from 100 infested and healthy spikes and crop losses were calculated for 16 wheat cultivars. The surveyed provinces significantly differed in infestation rates, with the highest infestation level recorded for Diyarbakır province with a mean of 17.4% (range 2.1- 54.3%), while the minimum infestation was determined in Adıyaman province with a mean of 5.3% (range 1.4-17.3%). Durum and bread wheat cultivars had negligible effects on larval infestation. Spike length of infested wheat plants was reduced by 0.9-14.4% and the mean number of grains and grain weight were reduced by 0.5-19.7% and 7.2-28.5%, respectively. The loss in 1000-grain weight was 8.9% in bread wheat cultivars, while the loss was 7.9% in durum wheat cultivars. It was concluded that the loss in 1000-grain weight reached 10.9%. Therefore, appropriate control measures should be taken against stem sawflies in high-infestation locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carob Moth [Apomyelois (=Ectomyelois) ceratoniae Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)] is a key pest in pomegranate orchards, Punica granatum L. (Myrtales: Punicaceae) in the Southeastern of Turkey. The pest causes significant damage and reduces marketability of fruits and is difficult to control using insecticides. The pest generally overwinters at different larval stages in infested pomegranate fruits. Therefore, infested fruits hanging on the trees or fallen on the ground are important for the Carob Moth's summer population in pomegranate orchards. This study was aimed to determine the infestation rate of A. ceratoniae and overwintering larvae population density of the pest on pomegranate fruits remaining on or under the trees. This study was carried out in two pomegranate orchards located in §anliurfa during 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 winter periods. In the study, 20 hanging fruits and 20 fallen fruits (200 fruits per orchard per year) were collected in each row. The infested and noninfested fruits registered individually. The infested rate with Carob Moth was then calculated. Also, overwintering larvae numbers were determined from collected infested pomegranate fruits. As a result of the study, the maximum infestation rate of fallen fruits was determined as 52% while infested hanging fruits were determined as 25% in Central County in 2016-2017 winter. The minimum infestation rate of fallen and hanging fruits rate were determined as 26% and 12% in Suruç County in 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 winter seasons respectively. The maximum overwintering larvae density of the pest was determined from fallen fruits as 120 larvae/100 infested fruits in Suruç in 2016-2017 winter. Conversely, the minimum overwintering larvae density of the pest was determined from hanging fruits in Suruç pomegranate orchard in the first working year with 40 larvae/100 infested fruits. Removal of those infested pomegranate fruits from the orchards in terms of mechanical management of A. ceratoniae in winter is very important to reduce the population density of the pest in spring and summer period in pomegranate orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cabbage looper [ Trichoplusia ni (Hübner, 1803) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)] is a significant pest of field crops and greenhouses in various parts of the world. Although cabbage is the preferred host for the pest, it harms several other crops. Cabbage looper infests almond orchards in Turkey; however, its population dynamics is unknown. The current study determined population dynamics of cabbage looper in three almond (Amygdalus communis L.) orchards located in Eyyübiye, Haliliye, and Karaköprü districts of Şanlıurfa province, Turkey. Population dynamics were monitored by sex pheromone traps (5.0 mg E5 Decenyl acetate and 1.0 mg E5 Decenol). Three pheromone traps were set up in each orchard during the last week of March, and emergence time, population density, population peaks, and activity duration of cabbage looper were monitored with the traps. The traps were monitored twice a week until the first adult emerged. Afterward, the traps were monitored weekly, and the numbers of adults captured by the traps were recorded. The peak population development of cabbage looper was recorded in Eyyübiye (45 adults/trap), Karaköprü (43 adults/trap), and Haliliye (40 adults/trap) on 13, 20, and 27 April, respectively. The population declined after these peaks, and the pest could not develop a significant population from the second half of June until September. The pest population was again recorded at the end of September and in the first week of November. The total number of adults caught by pheromone traps was 156, 181, and 117 adults/trap in Eyyübiye, Haliliye, and Karaköprü orchards, respectively. It is concluded that cabbage looper adults remain active for at least seven months from the beginning of April to the beginning of November in almond orchards situated in Şanlırfa province, Turkey. Therefore, management strategies should be developed during the peak development periods. Nevertheless, the damage caused by the pest is still unknown in the country; therefore, economic damages should be determined in future studies. Furthermore, pest risk analysis and modeling of the potential spread of cabbage looper in almond production areas could further provide valuable information on the risks related to the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mediterranean flour moth [ Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, 1879 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)] (MFM hereafter) is a significant pest of stored products, particularly flour and causes significant economic damages. However, its eggs are important laboratory host for mass rearing of biological control agents of important agricultural pests. However, diet thickness and eggs' density to be used in a specific area for economic mass rearing are not fully understood. This study optimized the diet thickness and eggs' density to be used in a specified area for harvesting higher number of MFM eggs with low cost. The MFM was reared under dark environment, i.e., 25 ± 1 °C temperature and 60–70% relative humidity in 32×26×6 cm plastic tubs. The diet consisted of wheat flour and wheat bran in 2:1 ratio by weight, respectively. Three diet thicknesses [i.e., 0.5 cm (thin), 1.5 cm (medium) and 2.5 cm (thick)] and three egg densities [i.e., 25 mg (low), 50 mg (medium) and 75 mg (high)] were tested to determine the most economic and productive combination. Life history traits, i.e., moths' production, moths' ratio and egg production were significantly altered by individual an interactive effect of diet thickness and egg density. The highest number of moths was obtained for medium diet thickness and high egg density. Medium diet thickness with low egg density resulted in the lowest number of moths. The highest number of eggs were produced by thin and medium diets and high egg density combinations, and these combinations proved the most economic for mass production of 100 g eggs. The results of the current study indicated that combination of medium and thin diet thicknesses with high egg density are the most economic for mass production of MFM. Interestingly, the study revealed that terminating moths' collection at 2nd week after first moth emergence and egg collection at 4 days after the moths are placed in egg laying containers is the most suitable time for the economic mass rearing of MFM. However, egg densities >75 mg need further testing on thin and medium diet thicknesses to explore whether they are more economic than recommended densities in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pistachio twig borer [ Kermania pistaciella Amsel, 1964 (Lepidoptera: Tineidae)] is one of the most important pests of pistachio that opens galleries in the shoots and causes blind and sparse-grained clusters and all these damage fruit clusters. However, the infestation rates and cardinal direction preference are unknown for the pest. This study determined infestation rate and cardinal direction preference of K. pistaciella in pistachio orchards during 2019 and 2020. The orchards located in in 25 different locations, i.e., Birecik, Bozova, Ceylanpınar, Eyyübiye, Halfeti, Haliliye, Hilvan and Karaköprü districts Şanlıurfa province Turkey. Surveys were carried out in three or four orchards representing each district included in the study. Twenty-five trees were randomly selected from each orchard and one shoot from each side of the tree was collected (100 shoots per orchard) for determining infestation and cardinal directional preference. A total 2500 shoots were observed from the study area and infestation was recorded. The highest infestation rate was recorded for Yaslıca village in Bozova district (70%) during 2019, and Göklü village of Halfeti and Akziyaret village in Karaköprü district (29%) during 2020. The lowest infestation rate (2%) was noted for Akrepli village of Ceylanpınar district during both years of the study. Bozova and Halfeti were the most infested districts compared to the rest of the districts included in the study. The highest and the lowest infestation rate was recorded for north and west directions, respectively during both years of study. The average of two years data revealed that infestation rate for the shoots collected from the north direction was 23.68%, while it 20.33% for the shoots collected form west direction. Statistical analysis revealed non-significant difference for infestation rates of the shoots collected from different directions (χ2 = 0,9468; p = 0,8141). The results revealed that all tree directions should be considered for the application of management practices since the pest does not prefer a specific direction. The cost of chemical control is high, but the efficacy is low, which necessitates alternative control methods for the management of the pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carob moth [ Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)] is a serious pest of pomegranate orchards in several parts of the world, including Turkey. Insecticides are often not a viable option to manage this pest as the larvae are protected inside the pomegranate fruit. This study evaluated the potential of fruit bagging (B), calyx removal (RC) and fruit bagging after calyx removal (BRC) for managing carob moth during 2016–2018 in two districts of Şanlıurfa Province, Turkey. Fifty trees were randomly selected from each location when pomegranate fruits reached the size of a walnut, i.e., approximately 3–5 cm diameter (end of May to start of June). Two fruits were marked for each method on each selected tree, whereas two fruits were reserved for control treatment. All fruits were examined during mid-August and late-September to determine carob moth infestation. The tested methods significantly (p < 0.01) differed for carob moth damage at both locations during each year. All the methods successfully controlled carob moth compared to control treatment. Infestation rate was 0%, 3.75% 23.75% and 57.25% for BRC, B, RC and control treatments, respectively. Covering pomegranate fruits with net bags has potential as an environment-friendly alternative management method for carob moth. Fruit bagging after calyx removal can give 100% control of the pest without any damage to the fruit. Nonetheless, future studies are needed to explore whether bagging can protect fruits from abiotic stresses and other pests. [Display omitted] • Environment-friendly alternative management methods were investigated for the control of carob moth. • Fruit bagging after calyx removal can give 100% control of carob moth. • All the methods successfully controlled carob moth compared to control. • Fruit bagging after calyx removal is recommended for successful management of carob moth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]