Biology, natural enemies and the distribution of Physokermes hellenicus Kozàr & Gounari (Hemiptera: Coccidae) in Turkey

Abstract

Physokermes hellenicus Kozár & Gounari (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) is a new record for Turkish scale insect fauna. Studies on its biological cycle and natural enemies were made on Abies nordmanniana (Steven) (Pinaceae) in Ankara during 2014-2015. It was found that P. hellenicus hibernate as the third instar and has one generation in Ankara. The following natural enemies were found associated with P. hellenicus: Anthribus nebulosus Forster (Coleoptera: Antribidae), Chilocorus renipustulatus (Scriba) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Atroctotomus spp. (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) and the parasitoid Aphycoides clavellatus (Dalman) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). Among the natural enemies, A. clavellatus was the main cause of mortality of P. hellenicus populations in Ankara. The scale insect was determined on Abies cilicica (Antoine & Kotschy) Carrière in Kahramanmaraş, Konya and on A. nordmanniana in Bolu, Eskişehir and Ankara, Turkey.