Journal of Entomology (2008) 5, 300-304

N.P. Deligeorgidis, C.G. Ipsilandis, G. Sidiropoulos, V. Greveniotis, L. Giakalis and P.N. Deligeorgidis (2008)
Population fluctuations of Tingis sideritis Stusak (Heteroptera, Tingidae) on wild mountain tea Sideritis scardica Griseb. (Lamiaceae) of Mount Vermion in Greece
Journal of Entomology 5 (4), 300-304
Abstract: The aim of this study was to record the population and the fluctuations of Tingis sideritis Stusak, on a wild population of Sideritis scardica Griseb. of mount Vermion, Greece. This is the first reference for the presence of T. sideritis in Greece, a new enemy of S. scardica. In the year 2005, recordings of T. sideritis population started at 15 of May and lasted until 4 of July. These recordings were repeated every 10 days (6 periods in total) on 50 wild tea plants selected in random. Two branches of each wild tea plant were studied. In year 2006, recordings of T. sideritis population started at 12 of May and lasted until 1 of July (with the same procedure as in 2005). In the laboratory, the insects of each branch were measured under a stereoscope and total replications were 100 (50 plants X2 branches). Period of recordings x year interaction found statistically significant at p<0.001. In general, year 2006 showed lower total number of adult insects in comparison to year 2005, may be due to the presence of natural enemies of T. sideritis, but most important is the different population fluctuations between the two years and it seems to be a common biological phenomenon in insects. If we take in consideration that a Sideritis plant may possess about 9-10 branches, then we can find about 100 adult insects/plant.
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Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
surveys/sampling/distribution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Tingis sideritis	Mountain tea (Sideritis)	Greece