Mustafa Kemal Üniversitesi tarım bilimleri dergisi (online), vol.25, no.2, pp.256-261, 2020 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)
Aims: Presence of Leptodemus minutus Jakovlev (Hemiptera), which causedirect damage by feeding, was investigated on cotton crop plants in Hatayprovince, Turkey.Methods and Results: The study material was constituted from specimensof L. minutus Jakovlev collected from cotton plants growing in Hatay in2019. In this study, specimens were prepared for re-description for specieslevel, the body parts of examined species having taxonomical importancewere photographed. In addition, distributional data of the species inTurkey and on the world, host plants and collection locality information foreach of the species investigated were given. Important morphologicalcharacters of species were examined.Conclusions: Cotton is currently the leading fiber plant crop in worldwide.There are many harmful insect in cotton production, which causeeconomic losses. In recent years, Leptodemus minutus Jakovlev as a newpest of cotton, which causes serious damage to the cotton production hasemerged. The pest has been reported first time in cotton production areasof Hatay province of Turkey in 2019.Significance and Impact of the Study: This pest causes damage on youngseedlings by colonizing in high numbers and feeds by inserting its styletsinto the leaves and stems causing deformation of the leaves and wilting.Pest control is difficult due to the high population and there are notenough studies on integrated pest control. This study clearly shows thatthere is a need for a detailed study on the biology and control of the pestat cotton-cultivated areas.