Background: Stored wheat grains are infested by several insect pests which lead to notable financial losses, compromised food security, and higher wastage. The confused flour beetle [Tribolium confusum DuVal (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)] is a widespread pest infesting stored flour and grains. Pest management in stored wheat requires ecofriendly option with lower toxicity to stored grains. Diatomaceous earths (DEs) are considered environment-friendly, green insecticides and often used to manage stored product pests. Methods: This study determined the impacts of different temperatures, relative humidity levels, and doses on the efficacy of three DEs [i.e., two raw native (Ankara, and Aydin), and one commercial (Silico-Sec)]. Two temperatures (25 °C and 30 °C), two relative humidity levels (40% and 60%) and five doses (0, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 ppm) of the tested DEs were included in the study. Different DE doses were mixed with 500 g of wheat grains in plastic containers and 30 adults of T. confusum were released. The containers were kept under different temperature and relative humidity levels according to the treatments and mortality data was recorded at 7, 14 and 21 days after treatments (DAT). Results: The mortality linearly increased with increasing time intervals and DEs doses. The highest and the lowest mortality was noted at 21 and 7 DAT, respectively. All DEs caused higher mortality under 30 °C temperature, 40% relative humidity and 1000 ppm dose. The native DE Aydin and commercial DE Silico-Sec caused comparable mortalities. Conclusion: Overall, the highest mortality was recorded with 1000 ppm dose of all DEs under 30 °C temperature and 40% relative humidity. Therefore, the DEs must be applied at these environmental conditions for getting higher efficacy. Furthermore, the native DE Aydin could be utilized to manage T. confusum in the granaries. The farmer granaries in the region have similar temperature and relative humidity conditions; therefore, the DEs can be successfully used to lower the damages caused by T. confusum at farmers’ level.

Stored grain pests cause significant economic losses during cereal grain storage. Insecticides have long been central to pest control; however, growing concerns over resistance, environmental harm, and human health demand alternative strategies. Diatomaceous earth (DE) treatments are a safe, eco-friendly alternative to insecticides, although their efficacy depends on the temperature, humidity, dose, and insect species. This study assessed the insecticidal effects of two natively-sourced raw (Ankara and Aydin) and one commercial (Silico-Sec) DE treatments against the key pest species Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) and Sitophilus granarius (L.) on stored wheat. Five doses (0, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 ppm) of each DE treatment were tested under two temperatures (25 °C and 30 °C) and two humidity levels (40% and 60%). Mortality was assessed at 7, 14, and 21 days after treatment (DAT). All DE treatments caused higher mortality in S. granarius than R. dominica. The highest mortality occurred in S. granarius at 30 °C and 40% RH with the highest dose. Aydin DE was most effective, but did not reach 100% mortality in S. granarius by 21 DAT. In contrast, it caused 100% mortality in R. dominica under the same conditions. There was no F₁ progeny produced by surviving individuals of both species. Given the similarity of the environmental conditions to the optimal conditions for DE efficacy present in Turkish storage facilities, natively sourced Aydin DE is a promising control option.

The present study aimed to reveal the species, their densities, distribution and short life cycles of wheat stem sawflies in the Southeast Anatolia Region of Turkey. Adult sawfly samplings were conducted in areas of cereal cultivation in four provinces: Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Mardin, and Şanlıurfa in 2014-2015. One hundred sweep net samples were taken from each wheat field during the adult flight period of sawflies in order to determine the species, their densities and distribution of the wheat stem sawflies. Life cycle studies were done in nature and immature stages of sawflies were also determined.Three species of wheat stem sawflies, Cephus pygmeus (Linnaeus, 1767), Trachelus tabidus (Fabricius, 1775) and T. libanensis (Andre, 1881), were recorded in cereal fields. The most widespread species was C. pygmeus (77.1% and 63.9% in 2014 and 2015, respectively) and the most narrowly distributed was T. tabidus (22.9% and 36.1% in 2014 and 2015, respectively). While the highest number of adults was determined in Diyarbakır Province (mean 44.15 adults / field), the lowest number was determined in Adıyaman Province (mean 5.73 adults / field). Cephus pygmeus adults emerged at the end of March in Mardin and at the beginning of April in Diyarbakır, Adıyaman and Şanlıurfa Provinces. After adult emergence, the females fed mainly on wild mustard plants (Sinapis arvensis L.) to obtain nutrition. Eggs and newly emerged first instar larvae appeared in May and larvae in diapause were found in cut stubs in the middle of June.

The Cicadellidae family, belonging to the Hemiptera order, holds great significance among the various species of sucking insects that infest crop plants. The family members not only cause direct damage to the infested plants but also serve as vectors for viruses and other similar diseases. This study was conducted to determine the species belonging to Cicadellidae family and their population fluctuations in second-crop maize Şırnak province in 2020. The samplings were done at three different phenological periods of maize plants (vegetative, reproductive, and maturity stages). The population dynamics of commonly observed species were recorded using yellow sticky traps in three fields. The studies were initiated at the 2-4 leaf stage of maize the traps were monitored at weekly intervals till the crop maturity. A total of 13 species, i.e., Anaceratagallia ribauti (Ossiannilsson, 1938), Batracomorphus irroratus (Lewis,1834), Empoasca decipiens Paoli, 1930, Euscelis lineolatus Brullé, 1832, Exitianus fasciolatus (Melichar,1911), Goniognathus (Epistagma) guttulinervis (Kirschbaum, 1868), Mogangella straminea Dlabola, 1957, Neoaliturus fenestratus (Herrich-Schäffer, 1834), Neoaliturus opacipennis (Lethierry, 1876), Orosius orientalis (Matsumura, 1914), Psammotettix striatus (Linnaeus,1758), Plathymetopius chloroticus Putton, 1877, Zyginidia sohrab Zachvatkin, 1947 were identified from the study areas. Plathymetopius chloroticus was the first record of the Cicadellidae fauna of Türkiye. The most common species were Empoasca decipiens (%70), Zyginidia sohrab (27%) and Psammotettix striatus (3%) respectively. E. decipens was recorded from 2-4 leaf stage of second crop maize in Şırnak province, The three common species were observed in fields from the 2-4 leaf stage, reaching their maximum level during the generative stage of the maize plants, and declining in population density during the maturation stage. Population density of E. decipiens reached the highest level (764 individuals per trap/week) during generative period of maize. It is recommended to use cultural control, in second crop maize fields where there are high population densities of species observed in the study area.