Survey of Coccinellid species and their preys in olive groves in Turkey

Coccinellids (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) are important predatory species that generally prey on insects. They play a vital role in controlling pests in agriculture ecosystems. A survey of the coccinellid species and their preys was conducted in olive groves at the eastern Mediterranean and southeastern Anatolia region of Turkey. Samples were collected with Steiner's funnel shaped collector and a hand aspirator by shaking, knocking or plucking of the olive twigs. A total of 470 coccinellid specimens were collected. Most of the samples were obtained in spring and autumn of the two years of study; 2011 and 2012. Thirty-two coccinellid species belong to 19 genera were recorded. Frequency rates of the most abundant species were determined as; Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus (31.91%), Hippodamia (Adonia) variegata (Goeze) (14.89%), Stethorus gilvifrons (Mulsant) (7.45%), Nephus nigricans Weise and Scymnus (Pullus) subvillosus (Goeze) (5.96% each), Pharoscymnus pharoides Marsl. (4.89%), Oenopia (Synharmonia) conglobata (L.) (4.68%), Exochomus quadripustulatus (L.), and Scymnus pallipediformis Gunther (4.47% each). Thirty species were determined as predators and two were recorded as phytophagous. Eleven species were found feeding on eggs and larvae of Lepidoptera, olive psyllid, scale insects and eriophyid mites.