Doğu Akdeniz bölgesi zeytin bahçelerinde Zeytin fidantırtılı, Palpita unionalis (Hübn.) (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae)’in yayılış alanı, bulaşıklık oranı ve zararı

Abstract

The study was carried out at unsteady intervals from April to December in olive orchards in 2008-2009. The distribution areas and the infestation rate of Palpita unionalis (Hubn.) (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) were determined by conducting survey studies in Adana, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaras, Kilis, Osmaniye, and Mersin provinces of the eastern Mediterranean region. In this study, P . unionalis was determined to spread in all provinces and most districts of the eastern Mediterranean region in which olive has relevant importance. The results indicated that the highest damage rate 76% was found in the olive orchars of Osmaniye. It was followed by those in Adana 58%, Hatay 54%, Mersin 48%, Kahramanmaras 47%, Gaziantep 16% and Kilis 16%. First year survey work had been done in all regions, but the second year survey was carried out in the provinces which the pest was most intensively detected in. In 2009, epidemic rate of P. unionalis in Adana was found as 79%, in Hatay as 77%, in Osmaniye as 65%, and in Mersin as 48%. It was observed that the larvae of P. unionalis was fed on young tender leaves and twigs of olive and caused losses in final yield of this olive crop by preventing the growth of trees.Additionally, it was determined that the larvae fed on the stem of developing fruits. Infested fruits were detected to dry out and remain on the tree or drop down later. The pest was most profoundly found and continued to damage in the irrigated olive orchards and in the fresh twigs of the olive plants in those orchards. Additionally, the pest was active and continued to develop throughout the year in olive orchards and mainly the 2nd and 3rd instar larvae were found in winter months.