Parasitism Affects Entomofauna Dynamics in Infected and Uninfected Plants: A Case Study of Orobanche anatolica Parasitizing Salvia absconditiflora

<i>Salvia absconditiflora</i> and <i>Orobanche anatolica</i> exhibit a parasitic relationship. <i>S. absconditiflora</i> serves as a rich food resource for insects due to its abundant nectar. <i>O. anatolica</i> demonstrates host specificity towards <i>S. absconditiflora</i>. The objective of this study is to assess potential variations in entomofauna dynamics and nectar chemistry attributable to parasitism. The observational groups consisted of <i>S. absconditiflora</i> individuals infected and uninfected by <i>O. anatolica</i>, as well as <i>O. anatolica</i> individuals. Entomofauna was monitored during the flowering periods of target species. The collected data were analyzed using biodiversity indexes. The nectar of the plant groups was evaluated with LC-QTOF-MS analysis to identify possible repellents for insects. <i>S. absconditiflora</i> plants free from infection had significantly higher insect diversity and abundance compared to those infected by <i>O. anatolica</i>. Parasitism by <i>O. anatolica</i> appeared to modify the entomofauna dynamics of <i>S. absconditiflora</i>, as demonstrated by the disparities in insect diversity metrics between infected and uninfected plants. When comparing the nectars of the plant groups, it was determined that the nectar from the parasitic plant and the infected <i>S. absconditiflora</i> contained substances with repellent properties in higher quantities than that of uninfected <i>S. absconditiflora</i>, including thymol, n-benzyloleamide, azadirachtin, capsaicin, azatadine maleate, and andrachcinidine. This study concluded that parasitism could lead to differences in entomofauna associated with these species.