Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on medicinal, spice and ornamental plants in Adana (Türkiye): new host plant records and faunistic notes

This study was conducted in Adana, Türkiye, over the period from 2016 to 2017, with the primary aim of cataloging the aphid fauna associated with medicinal, spice, and ornamental plants. A total of 65 aphid species were identified and subjected to systematic examination across diverse host plant taxa within the targeted plant groups. Notably, 42 of these host-plant associations represent novel records for the aphid fauna of Türkiye, indicating a substantial contribution to the current understanding of aphid–plant interactions in the region. Among the collected material, four aphid species, Uroleucon achilleae, Kaltenbachiella pallida, Coloradoa inodorella and Cryptomyzus ribis were recorded for the first time in the Turkish aphid fauna specifically within the Adana province, underscoring the province’s significance as a site of renewed biodiversity discovery within this taxonomic group. For each aphid species, the study provides precise locality data and comprehensive host plant information, detailing collection sites, environmental context, and the phenology of aphid host associations. Given the role of aphids as vectors in various plant, pathogen, vector networks, the research emphasizes the epidemiological and ecological implications of these findings. In particular, the work documents both country level and Adana province level new host plant records, enriching the existing knowledge on the diversity, distribution, and host range of aphids in Türkiye. Collectively, the results contribute to foundational knowledge for future biogeographical, ecological, and agricultural risk assessments concerning aphid dynamics and their potential role in the transmission of plant pathogens within this agroecological landscape.