J. Ent. Acar. Res.
Ser. II, 42 (3): 143-145

30 December 2010

S. BarJaDze, İ. KaraCa, B.YaŞar, N. GraTIaSHVILI

New evidence of parasitoids of pest aphids on roses and grapevine in Turkey 
(Hem., Aphididae; Hym., Braconidae, Aphidiinae)

Abstract - Aphidius eglanteriae as a parasitoid of Chaetosiphon tetrarhodum/
Rosa is newly recorded for Turkey. Short information about its parasitism rate and 
distribution in Isparta Province, Turkey, is given. another new information pertains 
to the association between Aphidius matricariae - Aphis illinoisensis - Vitis vinifera. 

Riassunto - Nuova segnalazione di parassitoidi di afidi su rose e vite in Turchia 
(Hem., Aphididae; Hym., Braconidae, Aphidiinae)
Viene segnalato per la prima volta in Turchia Aphidius eglanteriae Haliday come 
parassitoide di Chaetosiphon tetrarhodum/Rosa (Walker). Vengono fornite anche 
indicazioni sulla percentuale di parassitizzazione e la sua distribuzione nella pro-
vincia di Isparta. Ulteriori informazioni riguardano l’associazione tra Aphidius 
matricariae - Aphis illinoisensis - Vitis vinifera

Key words: Aphidius eglanteriae, Aphis illinoisensis, Aphidius matricariae, Chae-
tosiphon tetrarhodum, grapevine, roses

Roses

Turkey is one of the biggest producer of the rose oil and rose concrete in the world 
(Bayrak & akgül, 1994). only chemical control is used to decrease harmful aphids 
quantity in rose (Rosa damascena) plantations of Isparta Province. Chaetosiphon tet-
rarhodum (Walker), is one of main pest aphid of the Damask rose in Isparta Province, 
Turkey. This aphid causes weakness of plant by sucking activities and problems for 
producing great quantitities of honeydew, which is deposited on the leaves. Both these 
phenomena cause loss of yield of Damask rose flowers at the harvest time.

During our investigation we reared in the laboratory Aphidius eglanteriae Haliday, 
(1834), from the field sampled mummified C. tetrarhodum on Rosa damascena  (Figure 
1). It was found in three localities of Isparta Province: Isparta, Kuyucok and Sorkuncak. 
In July parasitism rate caused by attacking parasitic wasps to Ch. tetrarhodum was 
4.35% in Kuyucok, 3.81% in Isparta and 0.92% in Sorkuncak. In September parasitism 
rate was 6.5% in Isparta. Low parasitism rate probably was caused by high temperature.



Journal of entomological and acarological research, Ser. II, 42 (3), 2010144

This species is oligophagous and it attacks aphid species belonging to the genera 
Chaetosiphon and Longicaudus (Kavallieratos et al., 2004). It is distributed mainly in 
europe (Starý, 1976; Kavallieratos et al., 2004). The association is new for Turkey (el-
Mali et al. 2004; aslan and Karaca 2005; Tomanović et al., 2008). 

a possibility of mass-rearing and release of this parasitoids in the rose fields should 
be further considered. 

an over-all biodiversity of beneficial organisms in the biocenoses of oil-bearing 
rose  was  presented in Bulgaria (Balevski et al., 2008). However, merely  Aphidius ervi 
Hal., Aphidius rosae Hal. and Ephedrus laevicollis (Thoms.) were listed as participating 
in the rose ecosystem. as no host aphid associations were included, we may presume 
an association between  A. ervi and A. rosae to Macrosiphum rosae and E. laevicollis 
possibly to Chaetosiphon or Myzaphis (P. Stary, pers. comm.).

Grapevine

on 21 September 2010, we found Aphis illinoisensis (Shimer) on Vitis vinifera in 
Isparta Province for the first time (Barjadze et al., unpublished). There were big colo-
nies of the grapevine aphids on the shoots and leaves of the grape. Through mechanical 
injury and honeydew production this aphid represents possibly an important economic 
threat to viticulture.

Fig. 1 - Mumified Chaetosiphon tetrarhodum on a leaf of Rosa damascena



145S. Barjadze et al.: New evidence of parasitoids of pest aphids

one male specimen of Aphidius matricariae Haliday was reared from an aphid 
colony on 21 September 2010. This parasitoid was recorded from different Provinces 
of Turkey, including Isparta Province (el-Mali et al., 2004; aslan and Karaca, 2005) 
but the presented association between Aphidius matricariae - Aphis illinoisensis - Vitis 
vinifera is recorded for the first time in the world. Further investigations will show 
whether A. matricariae is effective against grapevine aphids to use it in IPM. also, it is 
recommendable to find further native enemies that attack A. illinoisensis or introduce 
them for controlling this invasive exotic grapevine aphid in Turkey. 

aCKNoWLeDGeMeNTS

We are grateful to Dr. Petr Starý (Institute of entomology, acad. Sci. of the Czech 
republic) for help in parasitoid identification and valuable comments on our ms. 

The project: “aphids and their natural enemies associated with oil-bearing rose 
(Rosa damascena) in Isparta Province (Turkey)” has been fulfilled by the financial sup-
port of research Fellowships for Foreign Citizens program (Code-2216) of TUBITaK. 

reFereNCeS

ASLAn B., KArACA İ., 2005 - Fruit tree aphids and their natural enemies in Isparta region, Turkey. 
J. Pest Sci. 78: 227-229.

BALeVSKi n., SiMoVA S., DrAgAnoVA S., 2008 - Biodiversity of beneficial organisms (entomopatho-
gens, predators and parasitoids) in  the biocenoses of oil-bearing rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) 
in Bulgaria. Plant Sci. 45:115-122.

BAyrAK A., AKgüL A., 1994 - Volatile oil composition of Turkish rose (Rosa damascena). J. Sci. 
Food agr. 64: 441-448.

eL-MALi M.u., StArý P., SAhBAz A., ozSerMeCi F., 2004 - a review of aphid parasitoids (Hym., 
Braconidae, aphidiinae) of Turkey. egypt. J. Biol. Pest Control 14: 355-370.

KAVALLierAtoS n.g., toMAnoVić Ž., StArý P., AthAnASSiou Ch.g., SArLiS g.P., PetroVić o., 
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dae: aphidiinae) of Southeastern europe and their aphid-plant associations. appl. entomol. 
zool. 39: 527-563.

StArý P., 1976 - aphid parasites (Hymenoptera, aphidiidae) of the Mediterranean area. Trans. 
Czech. acad. Sci., ser. Math. Natur. Sci. 86: 1-95.

toMAnoVić Ž., BeyArSLAn A., erDoğAn Ö., ŽiKić V., 2008 - New records of aphids parasitoids 
(Hymenoptera, Braconidae, aphidiinae) from Turkey. Period. Biol. 110: 335-338. 

ShALVA BArJADze, nAnA grAtiAShViLi, entomology and Biocontrol research Centre of Ilia State 
University, Chavchavadze av. 31, 0179, Tbilisi, Georgia

e-mail: shalva1980@yahoo.com.
İSMAiL KArACA, BüLent yAşAr, Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of agriculture, Süleyman 

Demirel University, 32260, Isparta, Turkey

accepted 20 December 2010