Ecological distribution and seasonality of Chrysopids ( Neuroptera : Chrysopidae ) in the East Mediterranean Region of Turkey Türkiye ’ nin Doğu Akdenizi ’ nde Chrysopid ’ lerin ( Neuroptera : Chrysopidae ) ekolojik dağılımı ve mevsimselliği

Anahtar kelimeler: Chrysopidae Çeşitlilik Doğu Akdeniz Mevsimsellik Abstract This study was conducted to establish Chrysopidae fauna and assess habitat preferences and diversity of species in the East Mediterranean Region of Turkey. The specific family (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) in this region is poorly known and this survey. Traps (sweeping net, light traps) were used to catch of Chrysopidae species from all study sites at the four provinces (Adana, Hatay, Mersin, Osmaniye) in the East Mediterranean Region of Turkey between the years 2012 and 2013. The most abundant species were Nineta flava (Scopoli, 1763). From all sites a total of 1841 Neuroptera were trapped, representing 18 species. All the species were found in all sites while species Chrysopa dorsalis Burmeister, 1839, Chrysopa viridana Schneider, 1845, Chrysopa astarte Hölzel, 1967 were confined to 3 sites. All the species reached peak abundance respectively in the June and July. The appearance and distribution of the Chrysopidae species were strongly linked with seasonal changes.


INTRODUCTION
The family Chrysopidae is a cosmopolitan family of Neuroptera with over 1500 species currently recognized.They are of particular interest to applied entomologists because the predaceous larvae of some species have been used successfully in the biological control of certain homopterous pests.Larvae of chrysopids are known to feed on a wide variety of small, soft-bodied insects, spiders and mites, as well as on eggs and small larvae of a number of lepidopteran insects.Members of the family has been used in biological and integrated control mainly of field crop pests, and augmentation programmes (Mc Ewen et al. 2001;Özcan 2008;Makarkin and Archibald 2013).
Based on its geographical structure, the East Mediterranean Area divides into three provinces (Adana, Osmaniye, Hatay and Mersin).The climate of study area is very favourable for its flora and fauna.thegeratest number of flora and fauma elements are found in this area (Akman 1973).The provinces of Adana, Osmaniye and Hatay belong to the Mediterranean subregion, and have a particular assorted vegetation.This area is of special interest, being one of the warmest of all Turkey.This area is the most exciting one in every respect of entomological research work (Avgin and Colonnelli 2011).This region has an excellent position due to the above mentioned reasons.Only few data (Aspöck and Aspöck 1969;Gepp 1974;Popov 1977;Şengonca 1979;1980;1981) are known on the Chrysopidae fauna of East Mediterranean Area of Turkey.
The present study conduct to determine Ecological Distribution and Seasonality of Chrysopids (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) in the East Mediterranean Region of Turkey.

Study Location
The study was carried out in Adana, Osmaniye, Hatay and Mersin provinces in the East Mediterranean of Turkey.The climate varies from Mediterranean in the southeast to terrestrial towards the North.During the survey, collecting localities were chosen in the ecologicalgeographical area of Chrysopidae so as to belong proportionately to all types of habitat.

Sampling Methodology
Light traps were checked weekly.Each week the Chrosopidae's removed and counted.In the species identification process, not only outer morphology also, the male and female genitalia has been used.When preparing genital preparations, primarily, dry samples were softened by waiting one day in the softening containers.After softening process occurs, for the genital preparations, the abdomen was cut carefully with a scalpel under the stereo-microscope.The cut abdomen was taken to 10% KOH solution and kept about 24 hours at the room temperature.The abdomen held KOH was washed twice with water after cleaning of internal organs.Washed Genital was taken up to the 70% alcohol and expected a few hours for the withdraw water.Afterwards preparations were analyzed under the stereomicroscope is made available drawing apparatus.Several literatures were used for the diagnosis of samples (Aspöck et al. 1980;Hölzel 1967;Şengonca 1980).

RESULTS
In this study, we compared the Chrysopidae family species diversity especially the abundance, seasonality and distribution in 4 sites (Adana, Hatay, Osmaniye, Mersin Provinces and their Boroughs).During 2012-2013.A total of 1841 samples (18 species) belong to Chrysopidae family were captured.Nineta flava (Scopoli, 1763) were observed as the most dominant in terms of their density during survey period.Chrysopa formosa Brauer, 1850 were observed as the least.The total number, dominance and percent of distribution of Chrysopidae are presented in Table 1.The study area has a Mediterranean climate.Average temperature observed (min.)12.6ºC, (max.)30.1ºC during the survey (Figure 1).The total number of Chrysopidae species at four different study sites are presented in Tables (2, 3, 4, 5).
Site I (Adana Province): 519 individuals were collected from Site I by using sweeping net and light traps.The most abundant species were identified of the family Chrysopidae, represented by 149 samples from the Imamoğlu Borough.Dichochrysa prasina (Burmeister, 1839) with the number of 57 samples was observed as the most dominant in terms of their density and seasonal occurrence during the survey in Adana Province (Site 1).Chrysopa dorsalis Burmeister, 1839, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens 1836), Italochrysa italica (Rossi, 1790), Chrysopa perla (Linnaeus 1758) were observed as the second dominant species in terms of their density and seasonal occurrence.This five species is found to be associated with the plant species Alyssum dasycarpum Steph., Cakile maritima, Pinus halepensis, Cupressus sempervirens.
Site III (Mersin Province): A total number of 297 specimens were collected from Site III in pitfall traps that include 17 species of Chrysopidae.
Site IV (Osmaniye Province): Totally, 253 specimens were collected from Site IV iby using traps during the study period from March 2012 to September 2013.Chrysopa dorsalis Burmeister, 1839, Chrysopa viridana Schneider, Site IV.Also, Osmaniye Province has a least number of samples (253 samples) all the survey sites (I, II, III).
Diversity and abundance in Site II was found to be higher compared to the rest of the studied sites.The number of Chrysopidae trapped was low in the months of September and March.

DISCUSSION
Climatic conditions in the East Mediterranean Area of Turkey (Adana, Hatay, Osmaniye, Mersin) were extremely cloudy throughout of the year.Chrysopid's avoid sunny weather in various ways such as sheltering on the leaves.Some of the species observed in the sites and hence this habitats can be considered important in connection with the biological warfare, release and conservation in future.For example; Ch. formosa and Ch.carnea has been used in so many agricultural areas as predator insects.
Considering that dominant species have the potential to be used in biological control programs.
Imamoğlu, Reyhanlı, Erdemli and Düziçi boroughs has a habitat including so many plant diversity (Fagaceae, Ericaceae, Pinaceae, Compositae, Brassicaceae and other broad-leaved trees.On the other hand; Feke, Hassa, Tarsus and Sumbas; has scarce plant flora including a few annual plants.We can conclude that there is an important relationship between the flora of site(s) and Chrysopidae species.Average 25-26ºC temperature may give these species a suitable dwelling.
East Mediterranean Area flora were identified with over 100 families, more than 400 genera and approximately 800 species (Akman 1973).Turkey flora comprises about 850 genera.It comprises approximately half of those plant genus in Turkey.Compared with Turkey flora floristic composition of these features are seen to be quite interesting (Davis 1965;Davis 1988).
Therefore, in implementing suchlike studies, it is imperative to define the survey area in a geographically meaningful manner.It will not only simplify inter-study comparison, but will also increase the precision of development efforts.

Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 .
Figure 2 The distribution of species in (Provinces) from March 2012 to September 2013 Hazır and Ulusoy have been recorded in their study titled Pest, parasitoid and predator species determined in peach and nectarine orchards in Adana and Mersin provinces Ch. carnea.Satar et al. (2017) stated that C. carnea is particularly effective to suppress the Aphididae populations.The study of Chrysopidae's seasonal fluctuations indicated a positive correlation between abundance and seasonal distribution.In July the number of samples were found as maximum.In support ofthis, Mc Ewen et al.  (2001)  stated that Chrysopidae's has a large of abundant in Jun and July substantially higher in March and April.

Table 1
Total number, dominance and percent of distribution of Chrysopidae Family % Distribution *Dominance = specimens abundance/total number of Chrysopidae specimens (1841) x 100.%Distribution= specimens abundance per site/specimens abundance x100