Omaloplia spireae spireae (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), a new pest of sea buckthorn, Hippophae rhamnoides L., in Turkey

Omaloplia (Acarina) spireae spireae (Pallas, 1773) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) was first detected as a pest of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) in Oltu, Erzurum province, in the summer of 2007. Adult O. s. spireae appeared toward the middle of July, fed on H. rhamnoides for approximately 3 weeks, and then disappeared at the end of the first week of August. They fed on the upper surface of the leaves and consumed epidermis and parenchyma tissue, mostly by making longitudinal holes of various shapes and lengths. In some instances the whole leaf lamina was eaten, leaving only the midrib. In time, the damaged leaves dried, turning first to gray, and then to a brownish color.