Investigation of leafhopper species, natural enemies, population development and alternative control possibilities in cotton fields of Southeast Anatolia Region

In the cotton growing areas of Southeastern Anatolia Region of Türkiye, leafhopper is seen as an important pest with its population density in recent years. Leafhopper species and predatory insect species in cotton cultivation areas in Diyarbakır, Şanlıurfa and Mardin provinces of Southeastern Anatolia Region were determined by weekly surveys from sowing to harvesting of cotton in 2021 and 2022. Population monitoring of leafhoppers in these provinces was used in weekly counts, visual inspection, yellow sticky trap and trap shaking methods in both years. Additionally, in order to investigate alternative control possibilities, the effect of some herbal extracts (Melia azedarach L., azadirachtin and onion extract) that could be an alternative to chemical control against the pest in question was investigated in the determined cotton production area in Sur and Çınar districts of Diyarbakır. In the results of working; 6 species belonging to the Cicadellidae family were identified in the cotton fields surveyed in Diyarbakır, Şanlıurfa and Mardin provinces. These species is Asymmetrasca decedens (Paoli, 1932), Empoasca decipiens Paoli, 1930, Recilia schimidtgeni (Wagner 1939), Neoaliturus fenestratus (Herrich-Schaffer, 1834), Zyginidia scutellaris (Herrich-Schaffer,1838) and Psammotettix striatus (Linnaeus, 175). 8). Among the predatory species, 14 different species belonging to 5 families were identified. Among these belong to the Coccinellidae family; Stethorus gilvifrons (Mulsant, 1850), Oenopia conglobata (Linnaeus, 1758), Propylaea quatuordecimpunctata (Linnaeus, 1758), Hippodamia variegata (Goeze, 1777), Coccinella septempunctata (Linnaeus, 1758), Scymnus rubromaculatus (Goeze, 1778) species, Deraeocoris serenus (Douglas and Scott, 1868) belonging to the family Miradae, Geocoris erythrocephalus (Lepeletier and Serville, 1825), Geocoris megacephalus (Rossi, 1970), Geocoris punctipes (Say, 1831), Geocoris pallidipennis (Costa, 1843), Geocoris putonianus (Bergroth, 1892) belonging to the family Lygidae, Nabis pseudoferus orientarius Remane, 1963, Nabis punctatus Costa, 1843 from the Nabidae family were identified species. The species Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens, 1836) has been identified from the family Chrysopidae, order Neuroptera. In 2021 and 2022, when population monitoring was carried out starting from cotton planting, it was determined that the population of leafhoppers in cotton growing areas in Sur, Bismil and Ergani districts of Diyarbakır province started to increase in July and reached the highest levels in August and September. In addition, in the studies carried out to determine alternative control possibilities, azadirachtin extract showed the best results against leafhopper with a rate of 39-45%, and the acetamiprid active preparation ranked second by giving the effective result after the effect of azadirachtin. While it was observed that the other applied Melia azedarach and onion extract showed similar effects, it was determined that the hairy BA 400 variety had the least effective alternative against leafhoppers. Keywords: Cicadellidae, Predator insects, Population development, Plant extract Cotton