Aphididae Species, Their Natural Enemies and Rates of Parasitism on Rumex crispus L. in Northeast Turkey and First Report of Acyrthosiphon rubi Narzikulov damaging Rumex crispus L.

Abstract

Aphid species, their parasitoids and predators on Curled dock (Rumex crispus L.) naturally grown in Erzincan and Erzurum provinces, Turkey were determined. Surveys were conducted at two week intervals from the seedling period until the end of the harvest period in 2017 and 2018. In the surveys, 30-40 plants were randomly selected and all parts of these plants were investigated with a magnifier. Four aphid species, thirteen predator and two parasitoid species were found. Rumex crispus was recorded for the first time as a host of Acyrthosiphon rubi Narzikulov (Hemiptera: Aphididae). In addition, parasitism rates of aphids were also established. The mean parasitism rate changed between 23.2% in 2017 and 23% in 2018. The relationship between total aphid number, total parasitized (mummified) aphid number and parasitism rate was measured. There was a high positive correlation (r = 0.838-0.861) between total aphid number and total parasitized aphid number, and a weak or intermediate correlation (r = 0.180-0.412) between total aphid number and parasitism rate during both growing seasons.