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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to monitor population fluctuations of various species of Diptera during the growing season of durum wheat, in years 2009 and 2010. The most abundant Hymenoptera species was also included in the study as a control species. The species studied were Cephus pygmaeus, Haplodiplosis marginata, Mayetiola destructor, and Chlorops pumilionis. Samplings of insects were taken in eight periods to cover the late stages of durum wheat. Measurements were made every about 100 m in the field, with five wheat plants per sample, from 10 different places. Total insect individuals on each wheat plant were counted. Maximum number of individuals per plant reached 6-7 insects, except for C. pumilionis which showed only 3–5 individuals. Year X sampling period interaction was also found in some cases, indicating different populations' fluctuations across years. The relatively low populations found in our study may indicate low level of danger on crop production, but the unstable populations of the most multitudinous insect species H. marginata and C. pygmaeus may cover a possible danger, especially for species H. marginata which, in specific years, can be found in great numbers causing severe damages on wheat crops. Combination of pests may result in significant damages and a total recording procedure must be practiced.
Highlights
IntroductionHaplodiplosis marginata (von Roser) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) is widespread in Europe and may harm many species of cultivated and wild cereal plants [4,5,6]
Durum wheat (Triticum durum = T. turgidum L.) is one of the most important cultivations worldwide and in some specific regions in Greece, like Thessaly and Macedonia
Significant interaction between year and sampling period indicates different kind of populations’ size and fluctuation across years. This unstable behavior present for H. marginata may be a result of some specific enemies, or host plant reaction [2, 13] and the climatic conditions, taking into consideration the temperature fluctuations of May in year 2010 and year x sample date interaction. This rather unstable and unpredictable behavior, especially for the two most abundant insect species may indicate a danger for durum wheat cultivations and in the specific environment of the area, taking into consideration that increased attacks result into wheat’s yield losses [10]
Summary
Haplodiplosis marginata (von Roser) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) is widespread in Europe and may harm many species of cultivated and wild cereal plants [4,5,6]. Mayetiola destructor (Say) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), the hessian fly or barley midge, is a very important pest of cereal crops including wheat, rye, and barley [7]. Though a native species of Asia it was introduced in Europe and later in North America It mainly attacks the stem, if it is really hungry it will eat any part of the plant it can find. The insect is cold resistant and may harm 18 species of cultivated and wild cereal plants, such as winter and spring wheat, winter and spring barley, rye, oats, timothy grass, and couch grass [8,9,10].
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