Scientometric Analysis of Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855) Research in Türkiye

ABSTRACT: Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855) is a widespread invasive alien species on a global scale because of its broad geographic distribution, high dispersal capacity, and ability to cause economic damage to a wide range of agricultural crops. The species was initially documented in Istanbul, Türkiye in 2017 and has since expanded its distribution, particularly in the Black Sea Region. This study employed a scientometric approach to examine the temporal development, database distribution, and thematic orientation of the academic literature on Halyomorpha halys in Türkiye. Records retrieved from the National Thesis Center of the Council of Higher Education, DergiPark, Web of Science, and other indexes were systematically reviewed, duplicates were removed, and analyses were conducted using unique records only. The final dataset consisted of 75 studies, including 58 articles and 17 graduate theses. The findings showed that the literature is not limited to internationally indexed publications, but instead reflects a multi-layered structure supported by national journals, theses, and other indexed outputs. The temporal distribution revealed a marked acceleration in research production after 2023, indicating that this body of literature is evolving into a more established field of inquiry. The thematic analysis showed that the literature initially concentrated on first records, distribution, and status assessments, but later expanded toward more explanatory topics, including biological control, natural enemies, damage analysis, basic biology, physiology, and genetics. Taken together, the findings indicate that the Turkish literature on H. halys has moved beyond the early stage of invasive alien species reporting and has developed into a multidimensional research field shaped by applied ecology, biological control, and mechanism-oriented studies.