The Lepidopteran pests of sweetpotato: First record of Helcystogramma triannulella (Herrich-Schäffer, 1854) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) with population development and natural enemies in Turkey

The study was carried out to determine major lepidopteran pests of sweetpotato crop in Hatay province located in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey, as well as population development of new record species Helcystogramma triannulella (Herrich-Schaffer) (Gelechiidae) between 2012 and 2013. As a result of field observations, four lepidopteran species, Hydriris ornatalis (Duponchel) (Crambidae), Aedia leucomelas (Linnaeus) (Noctuidae), Agrius convolvuli (Linnaeus, 1758) (Sphingidae) and H. triannulella were determined. This document is the first report of H. triannulella for Turkey, and, its population development was studied in the second year. The larval population of H. triannulella in the experimental plot began to increase in the end of July and reached its peak in mid-August. During the study, predators, Nabis viridulus Spinola (Hemiptera;Nabidae); Hippodamia variegata (Goeze), Stethorus gilvifrons (Mulsant), Oenopia conglobata (L.), Scymnus  interruptus (Goeze), Scymnus mediterraneus Khnzorian (Coleoptera; Coccinellidae) were determined in the folded part of the leaves, and parasitoids, Compsilura concinnata (Meigen 1824) (Diptera; Tachinidae) Apanteles sp., and Chelonus sp. (Hymenoptera; Braconidae) were obtained from the larvae in the laboratory.