DETERMINATION OF POPULATION DENSITY MEDITERRANEAN PINE BARK BEETLE ORTHOTOMICUS EROSUS (WOLLASTON, 1857) İN MERSİN FOREST MANAGEMENT DIRECTORATE FORESTS BY PHEROMONE TRAPS

Abstract

Our forests have many economic, social, cultural and most importantly environmental benefits. Among these, oxygen emission, forest products, wildlife, public health, aesthetics, recreation areas, water production, erosion prevention, climate regulation, hosting scientific studies, national defense and nature protection are the most important benefits. Rehabilitation of our degraded forest areas and protection of our existing forest areas are extremely important in terms of sustainability of our forests. However, our forests are threatened by some of biotic and abiotic factors. Bark beetles are the leading biotic factors. One of the bark beetles, Orthotomicus erosus (Wollaston, 1857) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) causes damage especially in the pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) forests. The pest is located in the Black Sea, Marmara, Aegean, Central Anatolia and Mediterranean Regions. We fight against this pest with pheromone traps in our country.Mersin Forest Management Directorate (MOİM) is located in the Mediterranean Region and the vegetation is under the influence of the climate. The altitude of the research area starts at sea level and can reach up to 3,134 m. Particularly from Arslanköy Neighborhood which is at 2,000 m altitude, there are mountainous areas without forests. The southern part of the research area has a flat land structure, while the northern and central parts have a mountainous and rugged terrain. This study was conducted between April and November 2018 in MOİM forests. During the study, 56 pheromone traps were installed in the fields where the trees were cut within the year or a few years earlier, forest depots, forest stacking areas, the areas with dry, fallen or broken trees in which O. erosus could be found in abundance.The wooden bars, where the pheromone traps will be hung were propped up by stones on the ground excavated and leveled with pickax and shovel. The pheromone preparations were attached without touching by using latex plastic gloves. The pheromone traps were placed 6-10 m from the nearest healthy tree. The traps were checked in every 7 to 15 days. Predator or harmless species fallen into pheromone traps were returned to nature. O. erosus adults fallen into pheromone traps were placed in 150-250 g plastic sealed containers and brought to the laboratory. The number of O. erosus was determined in 1 g and the total number of them was determined by scaling. During the study, in 56 pheromone traps an average of 71,307 units, and total 3,993,209 O. erosus adults were caught. It was determined that pest was abundant in MOİM forests. It was found that O. erosus have 2-4 generations a year, flight periods occurred in April to August and the flight periods intertwined especially in April, May and June. Bu çalışma Mersin Orman İşletme Müdürlüğü (MOİM) ormanlarında 2018 yılının nisan ve kasım ayları arasında gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışma kapsamında Orthotomicus erosus (Wollaston, 1857) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae)'un bol miktarda bulunabileceği aynı yıl içinde kesim yapılmış sahalara, birkaç yıl içinde kesim yapılmış sahalara, orman depolarına, orman içi istif yerlerine, dikili kuru, devrik ve kırık ağaç bulunan sahalara 56 adet feromon tuzağı yerleştirilmiştir. Feromon tuzakları 7-15 günde bir kontrol edilmiştir. Feromon tuzaklarına düşen predatör veya zararsız türler doğaya geri bırakılmıştır. Feromon tuzaklarına düşen O. erosus erginleri 150-250 g'lık plastik sızdırmaz kaplara konularak laboratuvara getirilmiştir. 1 g'da kaç adet O. erosus bulunduğu tespit edilerek ölçeklendirmek suretiyle toplamda kaç adet yakalandığı belirlenmiştir. Çalışma kapsamında 56 feromon tuzağı ile ortalama 71.307 adet, toplamda 3.993.209 adet O. erosus ergini yakalanmıştır. Bu çalışma ile zararlı böceğin MOİM ormanlarında bol miktarda bulunduğu tespit edilmiştir. O. erosus'un yılda 2-4 generasyon verdiği, uçuş dönemlerinin nisan-ağustos ayları arasında gerçekleştiği ve uçuş dönemlerinin özellikle nisan, mayıs ve haziran aylarında iç içe geçtiği tespit edilmiştir.