Predicting the development of critical biological stages of Sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps Put. (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae), by using sum of degree-days for timing its chemical control in wheat

Abstract

This investigation was carried out for possible use of sum of degree-days (total effective temperatures) in order to predict the critical biological stages in chemical control of Sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps Put. (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae), in 28 wheat fields of Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, and Şanlıurfa provinces from 2007 to 2010, and in climate chamber conditions. Development threshold temperature (°C) of Sunn pest in terms of the life span, starting from egg to new generation of adults, was found as 13.30 °C. Sums of degree-days starting from 1 January to appearance of the eggs, first-stage nymphs (n1), second-stage nymphs (n2), and fourth-stage nymphs (n4) were found with the averages of 44.6, 84.4, 123.3, and 223.1 degree-days, respectively. The results from the field studies reflected that developmental biological data on sum of degree-days as a predictive tool could be useful in better decision making to start chemical applications as soon as the appearance of n1 until n4 for Sunn pest control.