Pest status and parasitoids of Gall midge, Asphondylia capsici Barnes (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in Antakya province

Abstract

Pest status and parasitoids of Gall midge, Asphondylia capsici Barnes (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in Antakya province The pest status and parasitoids of gall midge, Asphondylia capsici Barnes (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), injurious on pepper were studied during the years of 2002-2003 in Antakya province. Damaged fruits by A. capsici were occurred at the end of July in both years. Rates of the damaged fruits ranged 1,41 to 69,71 % in Antakya province. Three larval parasitoid species of the pest were determined as Eurytoma dentata Mayr 1878 (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae), Pseudocatoloccus nitescens Walker 1834 (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) and Eupelmus urozonus Dalman (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae). Natural parasitization rates of A. capsici in respected years ranged 3,50 to 65,30 %. E. dentata was found to be the most common parasitoid of A. capsici among the parasitoid species in Antakya province