Abstract:

This study was conducted in Develi, in Tomarza, in Talas, in Yeşilhisar Town of Kayseri Province (Turkey) to establish the harmful insect and mite fauna of squash cultivation areas. Field surveys were started in May between the years 2016 and 2017 and resumed at an interval of 5-7 days until October. The standard sweep net and visual observation were used to collect insects and mite species in the areas. In the visual observations; 20 different plants were examined and the flowers, leaves, stems, fruits, and shoots of each squash plant were checked. As a result of the study, 9 harmful insect species from 7 families of five orders and 11 beneficial insect species from 6 families of 4 orders were determined. The arthropod species identified were Empoasca vitis Göthe, Tetranychus urticae Koch, Aphis craccivora Koch, Aulacorthum solani Kaltenbach, Aphis fabae Scopoli. Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus, Coccinella undecimpunctata Linnaeus, Psyllobora vigintidopunctata Linnaeus, and Chrysoperla carnea were recorded for beneficial insect species and these species were quite remarkable in terms of prevalence and population density. Empoasca vitis was the first record for the fauna of squash cultivation areas of Turkey.

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