Investigations on the infestation rate and population fluctuation of Aulacophora foveicollis (Lucas) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in melon plant areas in Çeşme (Izmir) district

In this thesis, the infestation rate and population fluctuation of Aulacophora foveicollis (Lucas) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) which cause harm on melons in the melon fields in 2015 were investigated in Çeşme district of İzmir. The infection rate of A. foveicollis was carried out in Alaçatı, Çiftlik, Germiyan, Ildırı and Ovacık neighborhoods of Çeşme districts on about one decare fields. In the research that carried out in three different periods as seedling period, flowering period and harvest period, larvae and pupae periods of the pest were not found and adult individuals were observed. In addition, it has been determined that the infection rate of all fields in each period is 100 percent. For population change, counts were made once a week in Çiftlik and Ovacık neighborhoods and in each of the four districts separately. The counts started on May 14th, 2015 and ended on September 30th, 2015. 25 plants were selected to represent the entire field and A. foveicollis eggs were sought in the soil, close to the root part of the plant, while individuals belonging to the larval and pupae periods were observed by opening the plant roots without damaging the root. It was observed that the adult population increased from 14th May, 2015 to 10th June, 2015 and declined after 10th June, 2015. In weekly counts from 4th September, 2015 to 30th September, 2015, an increase in the number of adult individuals of the pest was observed. Keywords: Aulacophora foveicollis, Red pumpkin beetle, infestation rate, population fluctuation, Çeşme.