Determination of beneficial and pest species in agricultural areas of Necef (Iraq) province

This study was conducted to investigate pest and beneficial insect species in agricultural areas of Najaf, Iraq. The study was carried out in five different districts of Najaf between September 2022 and November 2023. In this study, insects were collected by hand-picking, mouth aspirator, sweep netting, and Steiner funnel methods. As a result of the study, a total of 62 harmful insects, 30 of which are new records for Iraq belonging to 7 orders of 38 families, 33 natural enemies, 15 of which are new species, belonging to 7 orders of 22 families, and 22 other insect species (pollinator, ant i.e.), 9 of which are new records 5 orders of 10 families, a total of 117 insect species belonging to 11 orders and 70 families have been identified. While Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius, 1889) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), Empoasca decipiens (Paoli, 1930) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) and Planococcus citri (Risso, 1813) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) were the most common pest species, Coccinnella undecimpunctata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), C. septempunctata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens, 1836) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) and Syrphus sp. (Fabricius, 1775) (Diptera: Syrphidae) were found to be the most common natural enemy species. New pests identified in the study including the most important invasive species Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura, 1931) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) and Trupanea crassipes (Thomson, 1869) (Diptera: Tephritidae).