RESEARCH PAPER Determination of some biological parameters of Capsodes infuscatus Brulle on summer asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus Brot.) in pastures of Canakkale Province Ali ÖZPINAR 1 , Efecan YAZMIŞ 1 , Baboo ALI 2 and Ali Kürşat ŞAHIN 1 1 Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Plant Protection, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Terzioglu Campus, Canakkale 17100, Turkey 2 Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field Crops, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Terzioglu Campus, Canakkale 17100, Turkey Correspondence Baboo Ali, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field Crops – 17100, Turkey. Email: babooali@comu.edu.tr Received 11 May 2020; accepted 24 September 2020. doi: 10.1111/1748-5967.12485 Abstract This study has been carried out in the years of 2016–2017 to determine biological parameters of Capsodes infuscatus Brulle (Hemiptera: Miridae) on asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus Broth.) in the pastures of Canakkale, Turkey. In order to determine the population fluctuation of C. infuscatus, counting was done twice in a week on leaves, stems and flowers of plants in two different locations in the pasture. It was determined that the C. infuscatus aestivates in dried asphodel stalks as eggs. The first nymphal stages can be seen at the end of February, while adult population ends at the end of May. It was observed that both the nymphal and adult stages of C. infuscatus were feeding together on A. aestivus from March to May. In 2016, an average of 7.86%, 57.26%, 8.72% and 34.12% C. infuscatus individuals were recorded on plant, leaves, stems and flowers, respectively. In 2017, an average of 22.08%, 67.5%, 15.0% and 17.56% C. infuscatus individuals were recorded on plant, leaves, stems and flowers, respectively. The mortality rates of C. infuscatus nymphal stages were 94.76% in grazing area and 95.77% in non‐grazing area. We concluded that C. infuscatus has potential for the biological control of A. aestivus. Key words: Asphodelus aestivus, Capsodes infuscatus, Pastures, Population fluctuation, Rangeland biocontrol Introduction Pastures are generally stony, arid or humid areas, which are used for animal grazing. Pastures consist of 25% of the land masses in the world that, provide 16% of the world’s food production (Ojima et al. 1993). Turkey is in the 46th place in the world with 14.6 million ha pasture area (Work Group for Meadow and pasture plants n.d.). In our country, pastures have lost 70% of their area because of agricultural land development and urbanization. Excessive and untimely grazing are also important factors that cause hay yield loss in pastures. Related to these, weeds are not consumed by the grazing animals, resulting in invasion of the pasture in time and causing losses in fodder yield and biodiversity (Alatürk et al. 2018). Asphodel (Asphodelus spp.) is specialized to the Mediterranean climate and it is an invasive species in pastures of Turkey (Davis 1984; Onder & Karsavuran 1986; Ozturk & Pirdal 1986; Uygun et al. 1994). A total of 14 different asphodel species were identified in pastures in different regions (Tuzlacı 1988). Birincioğlu et al. (Birincioglu et al. 2005) reported that the most common species Asphodelus aestivus (Asparagales: Asphodelaceae) is present in 10–50% of pastures. Thus, it is imperative to control asphodel population for pasture improvement studies. Capsodes infuscatus Brulle (Hemiptera: Miridae) is one of the herbivorous insects that can only feed on asphodel plants. This insect has been identified in South Russia, Iran, Caucasus and Turkmenistan, in addition to Mediterranean countries (Ayal & Izhaki 1993; Carvalho 1959; Stichel 1962; Wagner 1974). In Turkey, this insect pest has been recorded in Gaziantep, Hatay, Adana, İzmir, Manisa, Balıkesir, Bursa, Canakkale Entomological Research •• (2020) ••–•• © 2020 The Entomological Society of Korea and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd