Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control, 25(1), 2015, 261-265 Survey of the Predatory and Parasitoid Species-Complex of Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) at Fruit Growing Areas in Burdur, Turkey Aslan, B. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Tefenni Vocational School of Higher Education, Department of Medical and Aromatic Plants, 15600, Tefenni, Burdur, TURKEY, aslanb@mehmetakif.edu.tr. (Received: May 3, 2015 and Accepted: June 5, 2015) ABSTRACT A study to survey the aphid fauna and associated predatory and parasitoid species of fruit tree orchards was carried out at Burdur province (southwestern Turkey) during 2012-2014. Twelve aphid species belong to 7 genera of family Aphididae were recorded. In addition, 6 species from family Coccinellidae (Coleoptera), 2 species from family Syrphidae (Diptera), and 1 species from family Forficulidae (Dermaptera) were found as predators. In addition, 5 species from family Braconidae (Hymenoptera) were recorded as parasitoids. A comparison of the detected predatory and parasitoid species between pesticide treated and untreated orchards was reported. Key words: Aphididae, fruit trees, parasitoids, predators, Burdur, Turkey. INTRODUCTION As in other countries of the world, members of Aphididae (Hemiptera) are an economically important group of insects in Turkey (Kaygın and Çanakçıoğlu, 2003). Although, very efficient and highly productive systems for producing crops have been developed, insect pests still cause serious problems. Aphids are among the most important pests of agricultural and horticultural crops in the world and some aphid species that occur in Turkey have been already classified as serious pests (Geneci and Görür, 2007). Damage of these aphids may be direct, when they suck phloem sap from various plant structures or indirect, by transmit viral diseases (Bodenheimer and Swirski, 1957; Kennedy et al., 1962; Erkin, 1983 and Bayhan et al., 2003). Burdur province is located in the "Lake District" of Turkey, forming a gateway between the Central Anatolia, the Aegean and the Mediterranean regions. A wide range of crops are grown in this area due to its different climatic zones. High potential for crop growing in the region depends on favorable climatic structure, ecological conditions and geographical location. Agriculture is the most important source of income for the region’s residences. Although, many studies on several insect groups have been conducted in Burdur province, no detailed studies about the aphids of the region have been reported. Generally, studies on aphids and their natural enemies in Turkey are limited (Düzgüneş and Tuatay, 1956; Giray, 1974; Çanakçıoğlu, 1975; Düzgüneş and Toros, 1978; Toros et al., 2002; Ölmez and Ulusoy, 2003; Aslan et al., 2004; Akyürek et al., 2010 and Görür et al., 2012). The objective of this study, therefore, was to identify the aphid species infesting fruit trees in the Burdur province of southwestern Turkey and to survey potential predatory and parasitoid species that attack aphids on the host crops in the region. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fruit tree orchards of the Burdur region, including those grown in the city centers and adjacent rural areas, were used for the survey. The study region has an average elevation of 1025 m above sea level. The Lake District, including also Burdur province, is one of the most important wetland areas of Turkey because of having many lakes of different sizes. Samples were collected biweekly from different orchards from 2012 through 2014. Methods employed by Hille Ris Lambers (1950) were used for collecting and preserving aphid species. Plant samples were placed in separate bags and transferred to the laboratory for further inspections. Aphid specimens were preserved in 70% ethanol + glycerine for preservation and eventual identification. When possible, plant foliages, stems or other plant parts with aphid colonies were carefully removed from the plant and placed into plastic cages to monitor for predators and parasitoids activity once returned to the laboratory. Collected predators were killed by ethyl acetate and pinned or mounted using standard methods. Parasitoids that emerged from the aphids were preserved in 70% ethanol + glycerine. In order to compare the presence of predators and parasitoids in pesticides’ treated and untreated orchards, samplings were conducted in both types of orchards during the survey. Aphid samples were identified to species level at the Department of Medical and Aromatic Plants in Tefenni Vocational School of Higher Education, Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Turkey by the author. Identified specimens were deposited at the museum of Department of Medical and Aromatic Plants, Mehmet Akif Ersoy University in Burdur, Turkey.