Insects on Lavender in Isparta Province, Turkey

Abstract

Since ancient times, people have been interested in parfumed and spicy plants and used them in many areas such as cosmetics, flavors, foodstuffs and dyes. The effects of plant extracts and essential oils derived from these plants on plant diseases and pests have been studied in detail for many years. The lavender is becoming one of the most important aromatic plants in Isparta province and there has recently been an increase in lavender plantations. However, there is limited or no any study on pests of lavender in Turkey. This study aimed at identifying insect that attack to lavender plants. The surveys were performed in two locations of Isparta province in Turkey between 2015-2016. The Insects on lavander plants were sampled by three different methods (sweep net, pitfall and direct plant sampling). The collected insects’ samples were brought to the laboratory in the plastic containers. Once morphologically identified, the insects were sent to the authorities for species identification. As a result, some insects belonging to different orders (Orthoptera, Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera) were determined. Poecilimon glandifer Karabağ (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae), Cercopis vulnerata Rossi (Hemiptera: Cercopidae), Lepyronia coleoprata (L.), Neophilaenus lineatus (L.), Philaenus spumarius (L.), Philaenus spumarius (L.) (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae), Atrococcus achillae (Kiritchenko) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) were found to be the most common pest species in sampled lavender palants.