Prevalence Areas and Damage Rate of Contarinia Pruniflorum Coutin & Rambier (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in Apricot Orchards in Malatya and Elazığ provinces (Turkey)

Abstract

Apricot flower midge (Contarinia pruniflorum) emerged in February-March and lay eggs on the flower buds of the apricot trees. The larvae hatching feeds through the bud wall and flower genital organs. The damaged flower does not turn into fruit. It is a pest that directly affects the yield.prevalence areas in apricot orchards in Malatya (Turkey) and the damage rate were determined. The highest infestation rate of the pest is in Kale and Battalgazi districts of Malatya and Baskil district of Elazığ with 100 %, then, Yeşilyurt 95%,Yazıhan 90%,Akçadağ 76%, Darende 75%, Kuluncak 50%, Arguvan 50% and Doğanşehir 12.5% followed by infestation rates. No pests were found in the orchards which were controlled in Hekimhan district of Malatya and Elbistan district of Kahramanmaraş. Although the damage rate varies according to years, it was determined that the flower damage rate was 0.7% and the fruit set rate was 10.6 % in orchard in Kale where the pest control is done, while the damage rate was 11.8% and the fruit set rate was 2.9% in the orchard without pest control in 2017.In 2018, when compared with orchards with or without pest control, while there was damage in the number of flowers, but there was no change in the amount of fruit.