Investigation of population fluctuation and damage of cotton seed bug (Oxycarenus hyalinipennis (Costa), Hemiptera, Lygaeidae) in cotton field in Adana (Balcalı)

In this study, population fluctuations and pest status of Cotton seed bug (Oxycarenus hyalinipennis) (Costa) (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) in a cotton field were investigated in Balcalı region of Adana province, Turkey during the years of 2017-2018. Besides, the relationship between Cotton seed bug and predatory insects and plant phenology has been also investigated. Field trials were carried out in the Research and Application Area of Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture Çukurova University. The adult population densities of O. hyalinipennis started to increase after mid-July on square, flower and bolls and thereafter densities declined after the first week of August. The nymph population densities were relatively higher in September, when numbers of opening boll were higher. Adults were mostly found on squares (30% and 34.44% in 2017 and 2018, respectively) or on bolls (35.19% and 27.16% in 2017 and 2018, respectively), while nymphs were mostly found on opened bolls (65.03% and 57.45% in 2017 and 2018, respectively). The population densities of predatory arthropods were lower than that of O. hyalinipennis, and the relationship between them was found to be weak. No specific predators were found. In the plant cage experiments, it was determined that adult females are not harmful on square and boll structures. It has been concluded that adults are here because of chemical smells secreted from the inner parts of these generative organs, but they do not cause spilling and staining in square and bolls even if they are fed (in order to the energy needed).