Estimating the Infestation and Population Density of Piercing-Sucking Insects Associated with Apple Trees from Different Orchards in Erbil Province of Kurdistan Region-Iraq

This study was conducted in 2024 to estimate the population density of piercing-sucking insects associated with apple trees from five different orchard locations (Almawan, Garota, Balisan, Hiran and Nazanin) within Erbil province, Iraq. Four species of piercing-sucking insects from four families of the order Hemiptera were collected. The population density of piercing-sucking insects varied significantly depending on the species, location and environmental factors. In total, across all studied locations, the woolly apple (Eriosoma lanigerum) was found to be the highest (45%) followed by the shield bug (Apodiphus amygdali) (25%), and pear lace bug (Stephanitis pyri) (25%), while the seed bug (Spilostethus pandurus) was the lowest 21%. Depending on the orchard location, in Garota village the insect infestations were higher (42.5%) followed by Almawan (36.25%), Hiran (35%), Balisan (16.25%) and Nazanin (15%), respectively. The most infested part of trees by woolly apple aphid was the branch followed by the leaf and trunk respectively. Also, the highest infestation by woolly apple aphid was at 2 meters.