New record of ground pearls, Porphyrophora tritici (bod.)‎ (homoptera, margarodidae)‎ as a pest of wheat in Iraq

Abstract EN

The ground pearls, Porphyrophora tritici (Bod.) is a new insect pest on wheat recorded for the first time from Mousl Province, North of Iraq.

Wheat Triticum aestivum is one of the most important crops in Iraq.

It is attacked by several insect pests of which the most important one is the Sunn pest Eurygaster integariceps Puton (Hemiptera, Scutelleridae).

During spring, 1993, wheat plants of Mousl farms were reported to be damaged by heavy attack of unfamiliar insects.

These insects were observed infesting roots and lower parts of the plant.

Specimens of these insects were collected and passed to the first author for determination from Dr.

F.

I.

Aziz of the Department Entomology, General Body of Plant Protection, Ministry of Agriculture.