22 Kas 2024 Cuma
Pest status of Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) and new records of scale insects from Northern Turkish Republic of Cyprus
Abstract :Cyprus has the ideal
geographical and climatic conditions for the reproduction and spread of many insect species that accidentally enter the
country by imported live plant materials. This work was carried out in the
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 2017-2018 as part of the investigation
on the harmful species on Babutsa (Opuntia
ficus-indica). It was found that Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell) (Hemiptera:
Dactylopiidae) spreads aggressively in
the the cacti cultivated for fruit and also infected some ornamental cacti in
Famagusta Province, almost destroyed
Prckly pear cactuses of closed Maraş Region. Diaspis echinocacti (Bouché) was found to be a relatively common
pest species in ornamental cacti. Moreover, ornamental plants in the parks and
gardens were severely infected by Pinnaspis
aspidiastrae (Signoret) (Diaspidae) and Pulvaria
floccifera Westwood (Coccidae). D.
echinocacti, P. aspidiastrae and P.
floccifera are new records for the insect fauna of Northern Turkish
Republic of Cyprus. Information on
biology, host plants, distribution, damage and control methods of these
species, especially in cactuses, are given
Prikly pear Cochineal,
carmine dye, babutsa, barbary fig, scale insects