This study was conducted in 2024 at the Insect Rearing Laboratory of the Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University, under controlled laboratory conditions to evaluate the effects of temperature, photoperiod, host density, female age and female density on the performance of Trichogramma evanescens Westwood, 1833 (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) using Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, 1879 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs as host. The results indicated that temperature had a significant effect on parasitoid performance. The highest fecundity and female longevity were obtained at 25°C, whereas adult emergence declined at 30°C. Photoperiod also influenced parasitoid performance, and the highest parasitism level was recorded under the 16:8 (L:D) photoperiod. Continuous darkness resulted in a higher proportion of female offspring compared with other photoperiod conditions. Host density also affected parasitism performance, and higher parasitism levels were observed at host densities of 100 and 150 eggs. Female age and female density influenced parasitoid performance. The highest fecundity was observed in one-day-old females, whereas fecundity declined with increasing female age. In addition, parasitism per female decreased as female density increased, while higher female emergence rates were obtained at low female densities.
The fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Drury, 1773) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), is a destructive polyphagous pest that poses a serious threat to hazelnut production worldwide. Effective management strategies are critical for minimizing its economic impact. This study aimed to evaluate the field efficacy of the pupal parasitoid Chouioia cunea Yang, 1989 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and three insecticides ‒Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki, azadirachtin, and diflubenzuron‒ applied in hazelnut orchards in Düzce province of Türkiye, between 2020 and 2021. To evaluate their distinct life-stage efficacies, larval mortality was assessed using a randomized complete block design following insecticide treatments targeting early instars, and pupal parasitism was assessed using a randomized plots design across two generations following parasitoid releases. Releases of C. cunea significantly increased pupal parasitism rates, reaching 86.06% in 2020 and 94.95% in 2021, compared to those in the untreated control plots. All insecticide treatments significantly suppressed larval populations, with B. thuringiensis and diflubenzuron consistently achieving higher efficacy than azadirachtin. In 2020, these two insecticides achieved efficacy levels exceeding 77%, while azadirachtin remained below 68%. In 2021, all insecticides showed improved performance, surpassing 90%, although azadirachtin remained slightly less effective. These findings support the potential of utilizing both biological control agents and selective insecticides as complementary tools within a sustainable and environmentally friendly strategy for managing H. cunea in hazelnut orchards.
Chemical control has long been an effective strategy against Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius, 1889) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae); however, insecticide resistance increasingly complicates field management. Although the use of many organophosphate (OP) insecticides has been restricted in Türkiye, some active ingredients, such as pirimiphos-methyl, are still permitted. Moreover, no updated data on resistance in field populations have been reported in the past decade. In this study, the frequency of the F331W mutation, associated with OP and carbamate resistance, was investigated in B. tabaci populations sampled in 2023 from the Aegean and Mediterranean regions of Türkiye using the PCR-RFLP method and a large sample size. Of 360 individuals, 194 had the RR genotype and 166 had the RS genotype, while no SS genotype was detected. The overall frequency of the resistance-associated allele was 76.94%. Although this frequency was slightly higher in the Mediterranean region (78.61%) than in the Aegean region (75.28%), the difference was not statistically significant. The findings indicate that this allele is widespread in major agricultural production areas and appears to be fixed in some populations, particularly in Antalya and Muğla. These results emphasize the need for integrated pest management strategies, including the rotation of insecticides with different modes of action.
Pesticides, including insecticides, are widely used to control pests in modern agriculture. However, a small portion of the applied insecticide reaches the intended target, while off-target losses may contaminate agricultural environments. This review focused on the fate of insecticides in the environment and strategies to reduce their ecotoxicological risks. In this context, the environmental behavior of insecticides, their pathways into the ecosystem and the ecotoxicological effects on non-target organisms, ways to reduce ecotoxicological risks are discussed. Risk-reduction options discussed include IPM, modern application technologies, development of lower-risk insecticides, nanotechnology-based formulations, and remediation. The transport, distribution, persistence, and major exposure routes of insecticides are examined collectively, and measures for minimizing contamination of surface water and groundwater are summarized. Ecotoxicological risk is affected by the physicochemical properties of the insecticide, application method, soil characteristics, and environmental conditions. Future research should prioritize current-use insecticides, acaricides, and nematicides, realistic mixture exposures, and sustainable management strategies.
The Pale tussock moth, Calliteara pudibunda L., 1758 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) is an important defoliator of deciduous forests, particularly Fagus orientalis Lipsky (Fagales: Fagaceae), with recurrent outbreaks in Türkiye. Despite its ecological and economic importance, its microbial communities remain poorly characterized. In this study, the microbiome of larvae collected during an outbreak in Bursa was analyzed by shotgun metatranscriptomic sequencing in Trabzon between 2023 and 2024. A total of 53.4 million paired-end reads were generated and taxonomically classified using Kraken2. The microbiome was dominated by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, comprising more than 65% of bacterial reads, while Reoviridae and Baculoviridae were the most abundant viral families. Sequences related to Cypovirus 15 and Orgyia pseudotsugata multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (OpMNPV) were detected. Electron microscopy further confirmed the presence of two baculoviruses, Calliteara pudibunda nucleopolyhedrovirus-Türkiye (CapuNPV-T1) and Calliteara pudibunda granulovirus-Türkiye (CapuGV-T). Archaeal sequences included extremophiles such as Sulfolobus acidocaldarius A (Sulfolobales: Sulfolobaceae) and methanogenic Methanosarcina spp. Kluyver & van Niel (Methanosarcinales: Methanosarcinaceae). These findings provide the first high-resolution insights into the microbiome and virome of C. pudibunda in Türkiye, highlighting microbial associations relevant to biological control strategies.
The aim of this study was to compare the effects of dietary diversification of Bombyx mori L., 1758 (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) larvae on hemolymph biochemical parameters, larval growth parameters, and cocoon and silk morphological and structural properties. The newly hatched silkworm larvae of a hybrid line (M × N) were randomly separated into two feeding groups: (1) mulberry leaves (ML), (2) artificial diet (AD). The experiment was conducted at KOZABİRLİK (Bursa, Türkiye) in May 2025 under controlled rearing conditions. The larval period was shorter, and larval weight and silk gland weight were higher in the ML group compared with the AD group (p
Lavender, Lavandula spp. L. (Lamiales: Lamiaceae) is an important medicinal and aromatic plant due to its bioactive compounds. Its tolerance to arid, low productivity soils has expanded cultivation in our country, increasing plant protection issues. Root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp. Göldi, 1887 (Tylenchida: Meloidogynidae) significantly reduce yield and quality and may alter active compounds, yet their control in lavender remains difficult and understudied. This study evaluated the susceptibility and resistance of lavender cultivars to four common root-knot nematode isolates: Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White, 1919) Chitwood, 1949, Meloidogyne javanica (Treub, 1885) Chitwood, 1949, Meloidogyne hapla Chitwood, 1949 and Meloidogyne arenaria (Neal, 1889) Chitwood, 1949 (Tylenchida: Meloidogynidae). The study was carried out between April and June 2025 at the Nematology Laboratory of the Faculty of Agriculture, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Türkiye. Four Lavandin cultivars (Silver, Grosso, Super A and Abrialis) and six Lavender cultivars (Sevtopolis, Hemus, Raya, Drujba, Yubileina and Hebar) were tested. Grosso, Abrialis, Silver, and Drujba were resistant to all nematode isolates, while Sevtopolis was resistant only to M. javanica. In contrast, Super A, Raya, Hemus, Yubileina, and Hebar were susceptible to all isolates, and Sevtopolis was susceptible to M. incognita, M. hapla, and M. arenaria. These findings provide valuable insights for managing root-knot nematodes and promoting sustainable lavender cultivation.
This study is based on material of the subfamily Phylinae Douglas & Scott, 1865 collected from agricultural and non-agricultural habitats in the provinces of Ağrı, Ardahan, Iğdır, and Kars (Northeastern Anatolia, Türkiye) between 2021 and 2024. A total of 30 species belonging to 21 genera were identified. Among them, Oncotylus (Oncotylus) vitticeps Reuter, 1879, and Solenoxyphus candidatus (Reuter, 1879) are recorded from Türkiye for the first time. Additionally, new locality data are provided for several previously recorded species. These findings contribute to the knowledge of the Turkish Phylinae fauna.
This study examines the species composition, trophic structure, and ecological functioning of soil nematode communities in the rhizosphere of cabbage, Brassica oleracea L. (Brassicales: Brassicaceae) agroecosystems across six districts of the Eastern Fergana Valley, Uzbekistan. To investigate the nematode fauna associated with cabbage plants, field studies were conducted in six districts located in the southeastern part of the Fergana Valley. The research was carried out during the spring and autumn seasons of 2024-2025. A total of 38 nematode species belonging to five orders were identified, reflecting considerable variation in faunal structure among sampling sites. Ecological indices, including the Maturity Index (MI), Enrichment Index (EI), Structure Index (SI), Plant-Parasitic Index (PPI), and Channel Index (CI), were used to assess soil food web status and ecosystem stability. Enrichment-dominated systems, particularly in Marhamat, were characterized by high EI values and the dominance of bacterivorous nematodes, whereas more mature and structured food webs were evident in districts such as Khojaobod and Buloqboshi, where higher MI and SI values were recorded. These findings highlight the diagnostic value of nematode-based indicators for evaluating soil health and emphasize the need for district-specific management strategies to support sustainable agricultural productivity in the region.
This study was conducted in 2024 under laboratory conditions at the Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Isparta University of Applied Sciences. The nematicidal effects of six concentrations of essential oils obtained from two ecotypes of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don (Asterales: Asteraceae) (France/Corsica, CF and Bosnia and Herzegovina, CBH) were evaluated against Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White, 1919) Chitwood, 1949 (Rhabditida: Meloidogynidae), Pratylenchus thornei (Sher & Allen, 1953) (Rhabditida: Pratylenchidae) and Ditylenchus dipsaci (Kühn, 1857) (Rhabditida: Anguinidae) at 25ºC. The CF ecotype had a higher essential oil yield (0.37%) than CBH (0.16%). Neryl acetate (55.89%) was the dominant component in CF oil, whereas ar-curcumene (20.09%) and α-pinene (17.91%) predominated in CBH oil. Essential oils from both ecotypes significantly increased nematode mortality compared with the control (p≤0.05). The highest mortality rates were obtained with CF oil at 1000 µg mL⁻¹ against D. dipsaci (91.2%) and P. thornei (82.8%). M. incognita was the least susceptible species. Results indicate that the CF ecotype possesses stronger nematicidal activity, likely due to its higher monoterpene and neryl acetate content. These findings suggest that H. italicum essential oil may serve as a promising natural nematicide candidate.
In this research, biophenology, life cycle, and host association of the whitefly Trialeurodes lauri (Signoret, 1882) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), recorded for the first time in Azerbaijan, were studied. Research was conducted in 20172024 at the Applied Zoology Center (Institute of Zoology, MSERA), under the environmental conditions of Baku and the Absheron Peninsula. Field observations and laboratory analyses were used to examine seasonal development, population density, and life stages, while morphological features of the egg, and larval stages were studied using a JCM-6000 SEM. The results showed that adult emergence from pseudopupa occurs from late April to early May, depending on temperature. Larvae pass through four instars; the imago and first instar larvae are motile, whereas later instars are sessile and remain attached to the underside of leaves. Population density has been determined to be 150300 pseudopupa (L4) per leaf. Although T. lauri is oligophagous, it has only been detected on Laurus nobilis L. (Laurales: Lauraceae) in Absheron. The species completes one generation per year and undergoes a prolonged diapause lasting about nine months. The presence of T. lauri in neighboring countries (T & uuml;rkiye, Iran, and Russia) indicates a potential risk of further spread and impact on border regions.
The speckled cockroach, Nauphoeta cinerea (Olivier, 1789) (Blattodea: Blaberidae), is a common live feed source for reptiles, amphibians, insectivorous birds, and predatory invertebrates due to its high nutritional value. On 26 July 2025, adult individuals obtained from a pet shop in Ankara were brought to the laboratory, and shortly thereafter, they exhibited pink feces, signs of decomposition, and mass mortality. Light microscopy of suspensions prepared from the cadavers revealed bacterial cells, which were subsequently cultured on LB agar. The colonies appeared dark red, and Gram staining indicated that the bacterium was Gram-negative with a bacillus morphology. Blastn analysis of the 16S rRNA gene region of the isolated bacterium confirmed its identity as Serratia marcescens J (Enterobacterales: Yersiniaceae) with 100% similarity. Phylogenetic analysis placed it in the same cluster as another isolate reported from T & uuml;rkiye (accession number: KX959982.1), supported by a bootstrap value of 80%. Adult female N. cinerea individuals were experimentally infected with five different doses of S. marcescens (1 & times; 105-1 & times; 109 cfu/mL). After fourteen days, the highest dose resulted in 80% mortality, and the LD50 was calculated as 9.84 & times; 105 cfu/mL. This study demonstrates, for the first time, the isolation of S. marcescens from the live feed N. cinerea and its high virulence in these insects. The findings highlight potential mass mortality events in the live feed trade, emphasizing economic losses, zoonotic and pathogenic risks, and the critical importance of hygiene and biosecurity measures.
Neognopharmia Wehrli, 1953 (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Ennominae), comprises three species in the Palearctic Region. In this comprehensive morphological study, variations in adult morphology, male genitalia, aedeagus and 8th sternite of Neognopharmia stevenaria (Boisduval, 1840) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Ennominae) are described on males collected between 2001 and 2025 from 10 provinces (Antalya, Isparta, Adana, Hatay, Ni & gbreve;de, Sivas, Denizli, U & scedil;ak, Malatya and & Scedil;anl & imath;urfa) from different geographical regions in the Asian part of T & uuml;rkiye. The genital preparations of the collected male specimens were prepared in the entomology laboratory of Hatay Mustafa Kemal University. Diagnostic characters are depicted and males and their genitalia are illustrated. The number and size of the sclerotized teeth in the ventral arm of the valva vary among the examined specimens. The aedeagus exhibits consistency across specimens from all provinces. The structure of sternum A8 is similar in all examined specimens. Neognopharmia stevenaria has been recorded for the first time from the provinces of Antalya, Isparta, Ni & gbreve;de, Sivas, Denizli, U & scedil;ak, and & Scedil;anl & imath;urfa, thus expanding its previously known distribution range in T & uuml;rkiye.
The green peach aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer, 1776) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is a globally significant agricultural pest responsible for extensive crop damage through direct feeding and virus transmission. Long-term exposure to organophosphate (OP) and carbamate (CB) insecticides has led to the evolution of resistance mechanisms, particularly mutations in the acetylcholinesterase gene (ace-2). Among these, the S431F substitution, known as the Modified Acetylcholinesterase (MACE) mutation, confers reduced sensitivity to dimethylcarbamate insecticides, such as pirimicarb. This study, conducted between April 2024 and July 2025, aimed to detect and quantify the frequency of the S431F mutation in M. persicae populations collected from nine major peach-growing provinces of Türkiye using the PCR-RFLP technique. A total of 360 individuals were genotyped, revealing 15 homozygous resistant (RR), 131 heterozygous resistant (RS), and 214 homozygous susceptible (SS) individuals. The overall resistant allele frequency was 22.36%, with the highest rates observed in Niğde (17%), İzmir (15%), and Aydın (5%). Regionally, the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Marmara Regions exhibited similar resistance frequencies (22.8%, 22.5%, and 21.3%, respectively). These results indicate that resistance to OP/CB insecticides may be in its early stage of development, or that previously high resistance levels may have decreased. Continued molecular surveillance and region-specific IPM programs should be applied to delay the spread of resistance.
Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius, 1889) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a major agricultural pest, and excessive insecticide use has reduced susceptibility in many populations, making resistance monitoring essential for effective resistance management. In this study, LC50 values of B. tabaci populations collected in 2022 from the Mediterranean Region of T & uuml;rkiye (Antalya, Mersin, Adana, and Hatay) were determined using the leaf-dip method for flupyradifurone, acetamiprid, and sulfoxaflor. Resistance ratios were calculated relative to the susceptible SUD-S strain. LC50 values ranged from 1.16-6.92 mg (a.i.)/L for flupyradifurone, 7.06-43.39 mg (a.i.)/L for acetamiprid, and 0.96-72.68 mg (a.i.)/L for sulfoxaflor, with corresponding resistance ratios of 6.79-39.2 9, 38.2-234.5, and 3.83-290.7-fold. Resistance levels were low to high for flupyradifurone, high to very high for acetamiprid, and low to very high for sulfoxaflor. Given the high acetamiprid resistance, its use should be minimized, while rotation of sulfoxaflor and flupyradifurone with other modes of action is recommended. Although flupyradifurone is relatively new, the observed reduction in susceptibility highlights the need to investigate potential cross-resistance and underlying mechanisms.
This study, conducted in 2025 at the laboratory of sustainable management of natural resources in arid and semi-arid areas, Na & acirc;ma, Algeria, aimed to evaluate the chemical composition, contact toxicity, and repellency of Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. (Lamiales: Lamiaceae) essential oil (SREO) from Algeria against two major stored-grain pests, Lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius, 1792) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) and Red flour beetle, Tribolium (23.13%), alpha-pinene (8.75%), and beta-pinene (6.43%) as the dominant compounds. In contact bioassays, SREO induced concentration-dependent mortality, with LC50 values of 16.2 & micro;L/mL for R. dominica and 28.5 & micro;L/mL for T. castaneum. Repellency assays showed strong concentration- and time-dependent avoidance, reaching 76.5% and 74.5% repellency at 16 & micro;L/mL for R. dominica and T. castaneum, respectively classifying SREO as Class IV repellent. The higher susceptibility of R. dominica underscores species-specific responses. These results highlight SREO as a promising botanical agent for eco-friendly management of stored-product insects.
Edible mushrooms contain bioactive compounds that may influence growth and reproduction in model organisms, yet organism-level effects of Lactarius deliciosus S.F. Gray (Russulales: Russulaceae) remain unstudied. This work examines how dietary inclusion of L. deliciosus collected from & Ccedil;orum, T & uuml;rkiye in 2025 affects development and reproduction in Oregon R Drosophila melanogaster Meigen, 1830 (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Flies were reared on standard medium supplemented with 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0% mushroom powder. Life-history traits assessed included larval development time, pupal viability, adult emergence rate and timing, fecundity, and egg hatchability. Statistical analyses used one-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD (alpha=0.05) with effect sizes reported as eta squared. Dietary supplementation with L. deliciosus produced significant, concentration-dependent effects. Larval development time showed the strongest response (eta(2)=0.361, p<0.001), with 0.5% and 1.0% groups developing faster than control, while 2.0% showed delayed development. Pupal viability (q2=0.292, p<0.006) and adult emergence rate (eta(2)=0.272, p<0.009) improved at lower concentrations but declined at 2.0%. Reproductive traits peaked at 0.5%: fecundity (eta(2)=0.292, p<0.006) and egg hatchability (eta(2)=0.306, p<0.004). This biphasic dose-response pattern, enhancing performance at lower concentrations while reducing it at 2.0%, is consistent with hormesis.
The study evaluated Ichneumonidae specimens collected from provinces in the & Ccedil;oruh Valley during 2024-2025, with 11 species representing Banchinae Wesmeal, 1845; Cryptinae Kirby, 1837; Diplazontinae Viereck, 1918 and Phygadeontinae F & ouml;rster, 1869 were identified. Among these species, Brachypimpla brachyura Strobl, 1902; Lissonota bistrigata Gravenhorst, 1829; Schenkia graminicola (Gravenhorst, 1829) and Syrphoctonus fissorius (Gravenhorst, 1829) are recorded for the first time from T & uuml;rkiye. Gambrus incubitor (L., 1758) and Mesoleptus laticinctus (Walker, 1874) are new records for Eastern Anatolia. In addition, digital photographs of these species were also taken, along with information on theirzoogeographic distribution, distribution in T & uuml;rkiye, sample numbers, collection locations, hosts and the plants they visited.
The pear lace bug, Stephanitis pyri (Fabricius, 1775) (Hemiptera: Tingidae), is an economically important pest of pome fruit trees. This study was conducted under controlled laboratory conditions to determine the insecticidal efficacy of Detech (R) WP 95 against the nymphal instars and adults of S. pyri. Experiment was carried out on apple, Malus domestica Borkh. (Rosales: Rosaceae) leaves using aqueous DE suspensions at three concentrations (2.5, 5, and 10 g/m2), and mortality was recorded daily from the first to the fifth day after treatment. 100% mortality was achieved within 24h in all treatments with 1st nymphal instars, indicating a high susceptibility of early instar nymphs to DE exposure. In the 5th nymphal instar, at a rate of 2.5 g/m2, mortality increased from 70 to 100% on the third and fifth day, respectively. At 5 g/m2, mortality was 80% on the second day and 100% on the third day of the treatment. Overall, mortality was positively correlated with both exposure time and DE concentration. Lethal time (LT50) value for adults at the lowest concentration was 1.29 days, which was lower than that of fifth-instar nymphs (2.56 days). In conclusion, DE shows significant toxicity against S. pyri and highlights its potential as a natural insecticidal agent in integrated pest management programs.
Planococcus ficus (Signoret, 1875) (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) is considered as an important pest of vineyards in T & uuml;rkiye. Control methods for P. ficus worldwide are often based on using insecticides. However, due to the cryptic lifestyle of P. ficus, reasons such as its presence under the bark, its body being covered with a waxy layer, and the inappropriate timing of insecticide use often cause insecticides to fail to perform as expected. Therefore, using alternative pest control methods can be more effective in P. ficus management. Mating disruption (MD) is a commercially available and environmentally sustainable control method for P. ficus. This study was conducted in the Aegean Region, which covers a total of 30% of T & uuml;rkiye's grape production areas. Field trials were conducted in Manisa, over 3 years by monitoring the mealybug population in table grape vineyards managed with MD and in a control (Non-MD) plot. In this study, pheromonebased mating disruption was applied in an open-field design using a sprayable microencapsulated pheromone (Check-Mate VMB- F) at 12.4-74.4 g of active ingredients per ha through the season. Trap catches and bunch damage in the MD plot were far lower than in the Non-MD plot. In 2019, 2020, and 2021, crop damage rates were 12.3%, 3%, and 2.3% in the MD plot, respectively, while they were 56%, 37%, and 41% in the Non-MD plot. The results of the 3-year study have shown that MD can be used safely in integrated pest management to control vine mealybug in the vineyards of the Aegean region.
