Preliminary Study of Insect Pests on Carthamus tinctorius L. and their Associated Natural Enemies along the Syrian Coast

Arab, A., A. Y. Ali, M. Zeity, M. Saleh, O. Salman, L. El-Dahhak, R. Darwish and J. Ammar. 2023. Preliminary Study of Insect Pests on Carthamus tinctorius L. and their Associated Natural Enemies along the Syrian Coast. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 41(3): 258-265. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-41.3.258265 The study was conducted on safflower fields at both Al-Sanoubar (Latakia) and Jamasa (Tartous) Research Stations during 2018, 2019 and 2020 seasons. It aimed to identify insect pests and associated natural enemies on the safflower. Results obtained identified 28 insect pest species feeding on different parts of safflower, ten species of sucking insects (Uroleucon sp., Brachycaudus sp., Mzyus persica, Aphis fabae, Lygus sp., Oxycarenus sp., Dionconotus neglectus, Carpocoris mediterraneus, Eurydema ornata and Thrips tabaci), eight lepidopteran species, six species of beetles and four dipteran species (one species of Agromyzidae and three species of Tephritidae). The incidence of fruit flies at Al-Sanoubar station was 49% in the 2019 season. Seven species of predator insects were identified: Coccinella septempunctata, Cheilomenes sp., Hippodamia variegate, Scymnus syriacus, Orius sp., Chrysoperla carnea and Syrphus sp. Three hymenoptera species of parasitoids Bracon spp. and Apanteles sp. were also recorded. Keywords: Safflower, insect pests, natural enemies, Syria