Survey of Cotton-plant Agrocenosis Insects in the Eastern Part of the Republic of Turkmenistan

To date, the high importance of cultivation industrial crops is universally recognized. One of these crops — cotton–plant (Gossypium hirsutum) — is the most important crop grown in Central Asia. The study of the species diversity of insects in crops of agricultural plants, including cotton–plant, is of great practical and theoretical interest, which allows us to assess the phytosanitary condition of crops and to develop a set of measures to improve them. The greatest economic damage to cotton–plant crops is caused by insects, among which are multivivorous (turnip moth, cotton bollworm, aphid, etc.) and specialized (more than 20 species). They damage almost all the organs of a given plant: roots, stems, leaves, generative organs (flowers and fruits) during their formation and maturation. In order to study the species diversity of insects in the cotton–plant agrocenosis under the conditions of the Lebap velayat of the Republic of Turkmenistan in 2019, more than 1000 insect specimens were collected. 12 species belonging to 7 orders and 10 families were identified. In the process of scientific research, predominantly polyphagous pests were recorded, which include two species of grasshoppers, two species of owlet moths, aphids, etc. In addition to pests of this culture, two species of predatory insects were found (European mantis and Bronze Carabid)