Coccinellid (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) species feeding on coccoids (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) in Van Lake Basin, Turkey

Coccinellid species feeding on coccoids were collected in Agri, Bitlis, Hakkari, Igdir and Van provinces, Turkey, during the years 2005 to 2008. In this study eight coccinellid species belonging to five genera Exochomus Rebtd (2), Hyperaspis Rebtd (3), Nephus Mulsant (1), Pharoscymnus Bedel (1) and Scymnus Kugel (1) were found feeding upon scale insect species belonging to the families Coccidae, Diaspididae, Eriococcidae and Pseudococcidae. Among the coccinellid species, Hyperaspis histeroides Faldermann, H. transversoguttata Weise and H. uhligi Fursch were recorded for the first time in Turkey.