Effect of constant and fluctuating low temperature on the survival of Tuta absoluta pupae.

Temperature is among the key factors impacting the establishment and spread of invasive pests. The tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is one of the major pests attacking Solanaceae plants and is known to possess overwintering capacities. However, the cold hardiness of T. absoluta pupae is poorly documented. In this study, we investigated the effect of constant temperature and stepwise cooling on T. absoluta pupae under laboratory conditions. For this purpose, bioassays on pupal development under constant temperature (5°C) for 30, 60 and 90 days, and stepwise changes in temperature (11, 10 and 8°C; in this order every 30 days), were assessed. We found that exposure to 5°C for 30 and 60 days did not affect the post-cooling emergence time of adults compared to the control. Pupae completed their development after 60 days of cold exposure at 5°C, but more adults emerged after 30 than 60 days. Even though alive pupae were observed after 90 days of cold exposure at 5°C, no adults emerged. External colours of pupae depended on the duration of cold periods, and green pupae obtained after 30 and 60 days were found to be positively correlated with the emergence of adults. When pupae were kept at 11°C for 30 days, 47% emerged, and when the temperature was changed to 10, only 12% of pupae emerged for the period 31-60 days. However, the decrease of the temperature to 8°C yielded no emergence for the period 61-90 days. Our study provides useful information to better understand the population dynamics of overwintering T. absoluta, and to underpin the development of monitoring and control strategies for the pest.

Secondary endosymbiont diversity of Bemisia tabaci and its parasitoids.

Cotton whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is one of the most important insect pests worldwide. It is known as a species complex consisting of at least 40 cryptic species. Although there are substantial data regarding species composition, parasitoids and endosymbionts of B. tabaci, data on relationship between the pest, parasitoids and endosymbionts are very restricted. Therefore, in this study, secondary endosymbionts in populations of B. tabaci and their parasitoids collected from Turkey and the USA were determined by PCR-based DNA analysis. Whitefly populations in Turkey represented both Mediterranean (MED) and Middle East-Asia Minor1 (MEAM1) genotypes from single or mixed populations of both genotypes. Arsenophonus, Rickettsia and Wolbachia were found in MED, while Hamiltonella and Rickettsia in MEAM1. Whitefly populations collected from Arizona were all MEAM1 and dually infected with Hamiltonella and Rickettsia. The aphelinid parasitoids Encarsia lutea and Eretmocerus mundus predominated in all Turkish populations. While almost all En. lutea populations were infected with Wolbachia, no endosymbionts were detected in any Er. mundus. Parasitoid species and the pattern of secondary endosymbiont infection in Arizona populations were different with Rickettsia detected only from Encarsia sophia while both Rickettsia and Wolbachia were found in Eretmocerus species. As a result, four secondary endosymbionts, namely, Rickettsia, Hamiltonella, Arsenophonus and Wolbachia, were detected from B.tabaci and its parasitoids. Among them only Wolbachia and Rickettsia were found in both the pest and parasitoids. It is conclude that further studies should be pursued to determine effect of these endosymbionts on biology of the parasitoids and success in biological control of B. tabaci.

Three new species of the family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) from Turkey.

Three new species of the family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) are described and illustrated based on female specimens collected from various plants in Turkey-Eharius denizliensis Döker & Kazak sp. nov., Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) karaisaliensis Döker & Kazak sp. nov. and Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) papadoulisi Döker & Kazak sp. nov.

Analysis of Species, Subgroups, and Endosymbionts of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) From Southwestern Cotton Fields in Turkey.

Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is one of the most important insect pests worldwide including Turkey. Although there are substantial data regarding species composition of Turkish B. tabaci populations, the situation is still not clear and further investigations are needed. Therefore, in this study, species and subgroups of B. tabaci collected from cotton fields in southwestern part of Turkey (Antalya, Aydin, Denizli, and Mugla) were determined using microsatellite analysis, AluI-based mtCOI polymerase chain reaction-random length polymorphism, and sequencing. Secondary endosymbionts were also determined using diagnostic species-specific PCR. Middle East Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1), Mediterranean (MED) Q1, and MED Q2 were the species and subgroups found in this study. The MED species (85.3%) were found to be more dominant than MEAM1. Species status of B. tabaci varied depending on the location. Although all samples collected from Aydin were found to be Q1, three species and subgroups were found in Mugla. Secondary endosymbionts varied according to species and subgroups. Arsenophonus was found only from Q2, while Hamiltonella was detected in MEAM1 and Q1. In addition, high Rickettsia and low Wolbachia infections were detected in MEAM1 and Q1 populations, respectively. In conclusion, for the first time, we report the presence and symbiotic communities of Q1 from Turkey. We also found that the symbiont complement of the Q1 is more congruent with Q1 from Greece than other regions of the world, which may have some interesting implications for movement of this invasive subgroup.

A new species and two new records of the family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) from Turkey.

Phytoseius ibrahimi Döker & Kazak sp. nov. is described and illustrated. The genus Paragigagnathus Amitai & Grinberg, represented by P. insuetus (Livshitz & Kuznetsov), and Neoseiulus neomarginatus Stathakis, Kapaxidi & Papadoulis, are recorded from Turkey for the first time. Identification keys for the Turkish species of Phytoseius Ribaga and Neoseiulus Hughes are provided.

Four new records and two new species of Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) from Turkey, with a key to the Turkish species.

Four species of phytoseiid mites namely Neoseiulus knappi Zannou, Moraes, Ueckermann & Oliveira, Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) octogenipilus Kreiter, Tixier & Duso, Typhlodromus (T.) phialatus Athias-Henriot, and Typhloseiella isotricha (Athias-Henriot) are recorded for the first time from Turkey. Two new species Neoseiulus sekeroglui Döker & Stathakis n. sp. and Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) antakyaensis Stathakis & Döker n. sp. are described and illustrated. A key to the all known phytoseiid species for the Turkish fauna is also provided.

Plastic cup traps equipped with light-emitting diodes for monitoring adult Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae).

Equipping the standard plastic cup trap, also known as the CC trap, with lime-green light-emitting diodes (LED-plastic cup trap) increased its efficacy for catching Bemisia tabaci by 100%. Few Eretmocerus eremicus Rose and Zolnerowich and Encarsia formosa Gahan were caught in LED-plastic cup traps. The LED-plastic cup traps are less expensive than yellow sticky card traps for monitoring adult whiteflies in greenhouse crop production systems and are more compatible with whitefly parasitoids releases for Bemisia nymph control.