Investigation of biology bacterial flora and biological control agents of hazelnut beetle (Balaninus nucum)

SUMMARY Investigation of Biology, Bacterial Flora and Biological Control Agents of Hazelnut Beetle {Balaninus nucum L.) Hazelnut beetle {Balaninus nucum L., Coleoptera, Curculionidae) is the most effective damager of hazelnut fruits in all over the world and in Turkey. It causes approximately 30-40% of economical damage per year in Turkey. Investigation of the biology and microbial flora of larvae and adults of B. nucum. were purposed in this study. Also, insecticidal activities of bacteria isolated from B. nucum and various effective biological agents recorded in the literature were tested against B. nucum. For this purpose, we studied the larvae and adults collected from the vicinity of Trabzon in laboratory in 1995-1996. The biological features and bacterial flora of this insect were investigated. Also, insecticide effects of various biological agents and isolated bacteria against hazelnut beetle were tested. As conclusion, we determined the lengths of forewing of adult female and male (10±0.8 mm and 9.5±0.3 mm), the lengths of rostrum (6±0.4 mm and 3.8±0.2 mm), sexual index (1/1), dimensions of egg (0.795±0.14 x 0.525+0.11 mm), dimension of head capsule of each instars (512.5±15 um, 800±8 um, 1005±10 /*m and 1295±6 /*m) and the numbers of total bacteria in larvae (1.8xl09 bacteria/larva) and adults (1.41x1ü11 bacteria/adult). The morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics of five isolated bacteria were also identified. According to determined features, the identified isolates placed into the genera of Bacillus sp., Escherichia sp., Micrococcus sp., Serratia sp. and Pseudomonas sp. Among five bacterial isolates, it is determined that Serratia sp. causes 100% mortality on B. nucum larvae. It is also found that tested biological agents have mortality effects on B. nucum larvae. The insecticidal effects determined on B. nucum within three days are 90% with LdNPV and BTS-1, 66% with PHE4-ADR, 60% with PHE4-AR, PHE4-AD, 56% with PHE4-A, 60% with AcNPV and 70% with HD-1. Key words: Hazelnut Beetle, Balaninus nucum, Bacterial Flora, Biological Control