Forficulidae Fauna of Olive Orchards in the Southeastern Anatolia and Eastern Mediterranean Regions of Turkey (Dermaptera)

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to determine the occurrence of Forficulidae earwigs on olive trees in the eastern Mediterrenean and southeastern Anatolia regions of Turkey. Seasonal changes in occurrence and abundance of earwigs were monitored in olive orchards in (Tarsus) Mersin and Erzin (Hatay) for two successive years. Samples were collected by using aspirator, handing, knocking and with twigs plucked from olive trees and separated in the laboratory. Six species from Forficulidae family in altogether 98 specimens were collected. Forficula aetolica Brunner, 1882 (2 specimens), F. auricularia Linnaeus, 1758 (13), F. decipiens Géné, 1832 (1), F. lurida Fischer, 1853 (41), Guanchia brignolii (Vigna Taglianti, 1974) (22), G. hincksi (Burr, 1947) (1), Guanchia sp. (14) and Forficula sp. (4) were determined in olive orchards (Oleae europae L.) in Adana, Hatay, KahramanmaraÅŸ, Mersin, Osmaniye provinces (eastern Mediterrenean region), Gaziantep and Kilis provinces (southeastern Anatolia region) of Turkey between the years 2008 and 2010. F. lurida was detected as the most abundant species. The results of this study also revelead that Forficulidae species were appeared on the trees at the middle of April and after become adults, they migrated to the soil at the end of December.