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Journal of the Heteroptera of Turkey 31
J.Het.Turk., 3(1), May 2021 (eISSN 2687-3249)
First Record in Southeastern Anatolia of Zelus (Diplodacus)
renardii (Kolenati, 1856) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) and his
New Prey Allantus (s.str.) viennensis (Schrank, 1781)
(Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae: Allantinae)
Dicle University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Plant Protection, TR 21280, Diyarbakır,
TURKEY
E-mail: 144061018a@gmail.com, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2318-3474(HÇ),
E-mail: besni@dicle.edu.tr, ORCID ID: 0000-0001-5488-0056 (HB)
Natural History Museum, Department of Entomology, Milano-ITALY
E-mail: paridedioli@virgilio.it ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4274-0926
Hakan ÇELİK Paride DIOLI Halil BOLU
ABSTRACT: The present study was carried out in Diyarbakır (Kayapınar district) province in
Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey in 2020. Reduviidae adults and larvae Tenthredinidae
family was collected on Rose spp in Diyarbakır province of Turkey in November and brought
to the laboratory for rearing. The larvae were reared at the temperature of 26±1°C, relative
humidity of 65±5, and illumination of 3500 lux for 16 hours per day. As a result of this
study, Allantus (s.str.) viennensis belonging to Tenthredinidae family and Zelus (Diplodacus)
renardii belonging to Reduviidae family were obtained. It was determined for the first time
that Z. renardii, a polyphagous predator, fed on A. viennensis. In addition, Z. renardii is the
first record for Diyarbakır insect fauna.
To cite this article: Çelik, H., Dioli, P., Bolu, H., 2021, First Record in Southeastern Anatolia of Zelus
(Diplodacus) renardii (Kolenati, 1856) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) and his New Prey Allantus (s.str.) viennensis
(Schrank, 1781) (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae: Allantinae), J.Het.Turk., 3 (1):31-39
DOI:10.5281/zenodo.4823762
To link to this article: https://www.j-ht.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/V31-A4.pdf
Received: Feb 6, 2021; Revised: Apr 13, 2021; Accepted: Apr 14, 2021; Published online: May 31, 2021
Research Article
An Open Access article distributed under the Creative Commons 4.0 (CC BY NC SA) International License.
KEYWORDS: Zelus (Diplodacus) renardii, new host record, Allantus (s.str.) viennensis, Turkey.
INTRODUCTION
Heteroptera (Hemiptera), or true bugs, is
the most diverse group of paurometabolous
insects with incomplete metamorphosis.
There are about 40,000 described species
worldwide and many more await description
(Schuh & Slater, 1995).
The recent Catalogue of the Heteroptera
of the Palaearctic Region lists approximately
3000 species for Europe (Aukema & Rieger,
1995-2006). Heteroptera have sucking
mouthparts and feed-depending on the
species-as parasites, predators, or herbivores
on different food sources, from blood or
J.Het.Turk., 3(1), May 2021 (eISSN 2687-3249)
Journal of the Heteroptera of Turkey 32
haemolymph to plant sap or the cytoplasma
of fungi. Heteroptera -unique among in-
sects- colonize almost the entire planet,
including the surface of the ocean and
Antarctica (Schuh & Slater, 1995).
Heteroptera includes 9365 species belonging
to 1632 genera in Palaearctic Region
(Aukema et al., 2013).
The endemic and largest genus Zelus
Fabricius, 1803 of the New World belongs
to the tribe Harpactorini (Reduviidae:
Harpactorinae) and is widely distributed
from Nearctic and Neotropic Regions.
The genus Zelus is represented by 71
species on the New World (Maldonado
Capriles, 1990; Zhang et al., 2016).
Between these species, Zelus renardii
(Kolenati) and Z. tetracanthus Stål have
an high potential for dispersal, expansion
and adaptation in various areas of the
World with climate similar to that of the
areas of origin (Weirauch et al., 2012).
Zelus renardii, in particular, is considered
an “alien species” in Europe and Asia
where arrived after the beginning of the
present Century.
This assassin bug is native in North and
Central America and introduced into
Hawaii, Midway Atoll, Philippines, Samoa
(Weirauch et al., 2012) and Chile
(Faúndez, 2015). It has recently arrived,
probably by passive transport, also in
Europe and the Middle East, in particular,
in Albania, Crete, European Turkey,
France, Greece, Italy, Sardinia, Portugal,
Spain, Asian Turkey and Israel
(Davranoglou, 2011; Petrakis & Moulet,
2011; Vivas, 2012; Dioli, 2013; Aukema
et al., 2013; Çerçi & Koçak, 2016; van
der Heyden, 2015, 2017, 2018; Pinzari et
al., 2018; Garrouste, 2019; Dursun &
Fent, 2020; Kıyak, 2020; van der Heyden
& Grosso-Silva, 2020; Rattu & Dioli,
2020).
The causes of the dispersal of Zelus
renardii to non-native areas (Hawaii,
Chile, Asia and Europe) from the New
World are unknown; it is also not clear
whether the Greek, Italian and Spanish
populations followed independent invasions
or were based on a single introduction
into Europe (Weirauch et. al., 2012).
According to these authors. it is more
likely that the populations established in
the tropical areas of the Pacific may have
originated from Central America, while
the Chilean and European populations
could derive from merchant transport
and consequent adaptations to the
Mediterranean and Middle Eastern climate,
very similar to that of California
(Weirauch et al., 2012; Pinzari et al.,
2018).
Distribution in Turkey: Z. renardii was
previously found in İstanbul and İzmir
(Çerçi & Koçak, 2016), Ankara province
(Kıyak, 2020) and Black Sea Region
(Dursun & Fent, 2020). The present find-
ing is new for Diyarbakır (Kayapınar
district).
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Zoophag predator insect: Zelus
(Diplodacus) renardii (Kolenati, 1856)
Material examined:1♀, 2♂♂; 20.11.2020,
Locality: Diyarbakır (Kayapınar district)
(37o57.13’N, 40o10.36’E, at altitude of
about 744 m), (Figures. 1-4).
The present study was carried out in
Diyarbakır (Sur district) province in
Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey
in 2020. Reduviidae adults and larvae
Tenthredinidae family were collected on
Rosa spp in Diyarbakır province of
Turkey in November 2020 and brought to
the laboratory for rearing.
The larvae were reared at the temperature
of 26±1°C, relative humidity of 65±5, and
illumination of 3500 lux for 16 hours per
day.
Zelus renardii identification was made by
the second Author using the dichotomous
keys of the genus Zelus (Zhang et al.,
2016) and the direct comparison with the
specimens of the entomological Collections
of Milan Museum of Natural History
(Italy). Allantus viennensis identification
was made by Dr. Önder Çalmaşur
(Atatürk University, Faculty of Agriculture,
Department of Plant Protection, Erzurum,
Journal of the Heteroptera of Turkey 33
J.Het.Turk., 3(1), May 2021 (eISSN 2687-3249)
Turkey).
Phytophag Host insect: Allantus
(Allantus) viennensis (Schrank, 1781)
(Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae: Allantinae),
(Fig. 5).
Material examined: Larvae number
multiple samples 20.11.2020, Locality:
Diyarbakır (Kayapınar district) (37o57.13’N,
40o10.36’E, at altitude of about 744 m).
Host plant: Rosa spp.
General Distribution: Native species in
Europe: Austria, Belgium Croatia, Czech
Republic, French mainland, Germany,
Hungary, Italian mainland, Luxembourg,
Romania, Sicily, Slovakia, Switzerland,
The Netherlands (Fauna europaea, 2020),
Records also in the Nearctic region
(Fauna europaea, 2020), and Asia: Turkey
(Çalmaşur & Özbek, 2003).
Distribution in Turkey: Erzincan:
Avcılar, Erzurum: Dutçu, İspir, Çayırözü,
Gümüşhane: Vauk Geçidi, Kars: Sarı-
kamış, Karakurt (Çalmaşur & Özbek,
2003). Allantus (Allantus) viennensis is
the first record for Diyarbakır insect fauna.
In addition, it was observed that the
larval stage of this species feeds inten-
sively on the leaves, buds and stems of
the rose plant.
RESULTS
As a result of this study, Allantus
viennensis belonging to Tenthredinidae
family and Zelus renardii belonging to
Reduviidae family were obtained. It was
observed, for the first time, that Zelus
renardii, a general hunter, fed on A.
viennensis.
In addition, this prey is the first record
for Diyarbakır insect fauna.
This fact, related to a generalist predator
like Z. renardii, presupposes that it can
also attack larvae of other species of
Tenthredinidae like a wide range of
insects, such Lepidoptera eggs and larvae
(Noctuidae) including Helicoverpa spp.,
and Coleoptera (Coccinellidae and larvae;
Curculionidae adults as Anthonomus
grandis Boheman) (Dress & Jackman,
1999) and Homoptera as Aphis gossypii
Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) (Kessing &
Mau, 1991).
Attacks are recorded also on Glycaspis
brimblecombei Moore (Hemiptera: Psyllidae
(Garrison, 2001).
Also feeds on Geocoridae (Heteroptera)
(Drees & Jackman, 1999), Chrysoperla
carnea Stephen (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)
(Hodge,1999) and Aphytis spp. (Hymenoptera:
Aphelinidae) (Heimpel et al., 1997).
DISCUSSION
By analogy with the cases mentioned
above, the intense predatory action of Z.
renardii on Allantus viennensis, cannot
be emphasized without calculating the
risks associated with the fact that Z.
renardii is a randomly introduced alien
insect.
In fact, people could think to use this
species of assassin bug to combat this or
other pests harmful to cultivated or forest
plants.
Instead Z. renardii is a generalist predator
which can also damage other predatory
in s e cts a n d au x i liar y spi d e rs s u ch
as “chrysopes” or “ladybirds” ("intra-guild
predation”), as well illustrated by various
researches (Cisneros & Rosenheim, 1997;
Weirauch et al., 2012; Pinzari et al.,
2018).
Furthermore, it is always advisable to be
wary of alien species, accidentally introduced
with the goods, because they can exert a
strong competition with local assassin
bugs. In this sense, the presence of sticky
bristles on the anterior tibia, absent in
European and Asian species, is eloquent.
It could favor Z. renardii in the competition
for food, thus interfering with the edaphic
population dynamics of other assassin
bugs (Pinzari et al., 2018).
Therefore, it is also important to control
this alien predator population so that it
does not constitute a dangerous disturbance
of the ecosystem and human health, due
to its painful stings.
J.Het.Turk., 3(1), May 2021 (eISSN 2687-3249)
Journal of the Heteroptera of Turkey 34
Figure 1. Zelus renardii feeding on Allantus viennensis larvae
Figure 2. Female of Zelus renardii feeding on male specimen.
Journal of the Heteroptera of Turkey 35
J.Het.Turk., 3(1), May 2021 (eISSN 2687-3249)
Figure 3. View of female specimens from dorsal and ventral parts
J.Het.Turk., 3(1), May 2021 (eISSN 2687-3249)
Journal of the Heteroptera of Turkey 36
Figure 4. View of male specimens from dorsal and ventral parts
Journal of the Heteroptera of Turkey 37
J.Het.Turk., 3(1), May 2021 (eISSN 2687-3249)
Figure 5. Damage of the larval stage of Allantus viennensis on the leafs
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We are grateful to Prof. Dr. Önder
Çalmaşur (Atatürk University, Faculty of
Agriculture, Department of Plant Protection,
Erzurum, Turkey) for identification of
host insect and to Dr. Fabrizio Rigato
(Curator of the Entomology Collections
of Natural History Museum of Milan, Ita-
ly, NHMMI) for allowing examination of
the material of the genus Zelus under
his care.
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