A research into the determination of the species belonging to Cantharidae (Coleoptera) family in sweet cherry production areas in Kemalpasa (Izmir) and the determination of spread and presence rates of those species

This study was conducted in 2015, which aimed to determine the distribution and occurrence rates of the species by identifying the type attached to Cantharidae (Coleoptera) family, which exists in the cherry orchards in Kemalpaşa district where is Izmir's major cherry production area. Samplings were conducted by using insect net, beating tray and aspirator in 142 orchards. As a result of the study, four species were determined including Cantharis livida Linnaeus, 1758, C. prusiensis Marseul, 1864, C. delagrangei Delkeskamp, 1939 and Rhagonycha fulvaliena Eschscholtz, 1830 from Cantharini tribus of Cantharinae subfamily. Synonyms, morphologies, distributions of these species and information about the plants they are on were also given. The most common species in the district is C. livida sampled 118 orchards from total of 142. This species was followed by R. fulvaliena (112 orchards), C. prusiensis (20 orchards) and C. delagrangei (1 orchard), respectively. A total of 1431 samples which belong to four species collected. 664 samples (% 46,40) were caught with beating tray, 577 (% 40,32) were with aspirator and 190 (% 13,27) were with insect net. C. livida which is one of the most common species on early and mid-season varieties, while R. fulvaliena is on the latest varieties. During this study, feeding of C. prusiensis and C. delagrangei on cherry fruits have not been observed in nature and in the laboratory, while the species of C. livida and R. fulvaliena have been observed as feeding on cherry fruits. Especially feeding of R. fulvaliena with fruits of the high economic value of the latest varieties of 0900 Ziraat, is important.