SPECIES COMPOSITION AND POPULATION DYNAMICS OF THE HARMFUL INSECT FAUNA (HEMIPTERA: CICADOMORPHA, FULGOROMORPHA AND STERNORRHYNCHA) OF WINTER TRITICALE

H. Krusteva, O. Karadjova

Abstract: The aim of the present investigation was to identify the hemipteran pests of suborder Sternorrhyncha (family Aphididae) and suborders Cicadomorpha, and Fulgoromorpha, on winter triticale Vihren variety and examine the population dynamics of the dominant species during the spring/summer vegetation period in relation to the sowing date and the climatic conditions. The study was carried out during the period 2011–2013 on the experimental fields on four plots of 0.25 ha. Two plots were sown with triticale in September (early sowing) and October (late sowing) each year. A total of 3 species of family Aphididae, 10 species of Cicadomorpha and 1 species of Fulgoromorpha were found in the crop. Sitobion avenae, Philaenus spumarius, Psammotettix provincialis, P. striatus and P. alienus were the most abundant. The abundance of Sitobion avenae was statistically higher in the crop sown in September and can be forecasted using the percentage of attacked stems. The variations in the abundance of Cicadomorpha and Flugoromorpha during the spring vegetation period were more dependent on the climatic conditions than on the sowing date.

Keywords: Aphididae; Cicadomorpha; Fulgoromorpha; population dynamics; sowing date; winter triticale

Date published: 2017-09-01