Research on the bio-ecology of Zyginidia sohrab zachvatkin, 1947 (Hemiptera: cicadellidae) pest leafhoppers in maize fields of the central anatolia region

The aim of this study was to determine the bio-ecology of Zyginidia sohrab, a pest of maize plants in the Central Anatolia Area, and it was conducted in leaf cages on the first crop of maize for silage in the natural environment in the years 2021–2022. Z. sohrab adults emerge from their wintering habitats when the weather warms, and after feeding on barley and wheat fields and weeds at the borders of the fields for around 1-1.5 months, they move to corn plants with 2-4 leaves at the end of May-early June. Z. sohrab feeds on maize for 4.5 months, from the 2-4 leaf stage of the plant until harvest and produces two offspring. While it varies with temperature, it has been shown that the eggs hatch in 1-2 weeks, and after five nymphal periods, which last 14–20 days, the larvae become adults. It has been determined that the second-generation adults have passed over from the maize to the weeds on the edge of the field due to the drying of the corn plant or the harvesting of the silage plants. The sex ratios of the pest were in favor of females in both years. In the first generation in 2021, total reproductive power (GRR) was 71 days, intrinsic rate of increase (r) was 0,095 days, population doubling time (DT) was 9,06 females/day, and the finite rate of increase population (λ) is 1.079 and 0,974 female/day in the first and second generation, respectively. In the first generation in 2022, total reproductive power (GRR) was 77 days, intrinsic rate of increase (r) was 0.076 days, the population doubling time (DT) was 7.26 females/day, the finite rate of increase population (λ) was in the first and second generation was 1,100 and 1,091 female/day, respectively. Mean generation time (T) was found as 52.53 and 42.63 days in the first progeny between 2021 and 2022. Due to the drying of the maize plant, the offspring period could not be determined because the second adults passed to the weeds. Net reproductive power (Ro) was determined as 55,51 and 0,39 respectively in the first and second generation in the first year, while the first and second generation has been determined 42,63 and 15,28 female/female respectively in the second year.