Predators and Parasitoids of Pine Processionary Moth (Thaumetopoeawilkinsoni Tams) in Western Mediterranean Region in Turkey

OpenAlex İngilizce

The pine processionary moth, (Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni Tams, 1924 [Lepidoptera: Notodontidae]) is the most important defoliator pest of pine forests in the Mediterranean Basin and Turkey. Natural enemies of the pine processionary moth are various species of predators and parasitoids. In this study, field studies were performed in nine study areas which were chosen from four provinces (Isparta, Burdur, Antalya, Muğla) in the Western Mediterranean Region of Turkey to determine the potential predators, larva and egg parasitoids of pine processionary moth. Wintering nests and egg batches of the pine processionary caterpillars were sampled from selected study stations throughout 2018. Calosoma sycophanta (L.) and Forficula smyrnensis Serville were sampled as predator species and Phryxe caudata (Róndani), Trichogramma sp., Ooencyrtus pityocampae (Mercet) and Anastatus bifasciatus (Geoffroy) were sampled as parasitoids. Forficula smyrnensis is recoreded for the first time as a predator of T. wilkinsoni. Results may contribute to the literature on ecology, forestry studies and biological control efforts.