Abundance and diversity of mites associated to Mexican berries

ABSTRACT: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the spatial-temporal distribution of phytophagous and predatory mites in the canopy of Jatropha curcas L. Mite richness, diversity, and abundance were determined, and higher values were observed primarily in the top stratum. Mite population in J. curcas was higher during the rainy season. Phytophagous mites were mostly concentrated in the top stratum, and Brevipalpus sp. was the most abundant. Predatory mites from the family Phytoseiidae presented the highest richness and diversity, and Amblydromalus zannoui was the most abundant species. The present results indicate seasonal population dynamics for both predatory and phytophagous mites on J. curcas.

Ecological interactions between mites (predatory and phytophagous) and wild plants growing in undisturbed environments play a crucial role to understand their natural settlement, development and dispersion patterns. Pequin chili pepper, Capsicum annuum L. var. glabriusculum, is a low-cost natural resource for local communities living inside Natural Protected Areas (ANP) of Tamaulipas State in Mexico. The aims of this research work were: 1) determine the spatial distribution pattern of predatory and phytophagous mites, 2) determine the spatiotemporal association between predatory and phytophagous mites, and 3) determine the association among different mite species and some phenological stages of Pequin chili pepper. The most abundant phytophagous mites were Tetranychus merganser and Aculops lycpoersici, and the predatory species were Amblyseius similoides, Euseius mesembrinus and Metaseiulus (Metaseiulus) negundinis. Most mite species showed an aggregated distribution pattern according to the plant phenological stages. However, the distribution of mite species throughout time showed different types of aggregation. On the other hand, we found positive associations among A. lycopersici and T. merganser phytophagous mites with A. similoides, E. mesembrinus and M. (M.) negundinis predators mites. The association between plants and mite species were influenced by the phenological stages of Pequin chili pepper. This is an indication of the complexity among trophic-chain interactions that depend largely on the available resources and competition. These two factors serve as foundations for settlement, development and dispersion patterns of certain species.

Natural Enemies Associated with <i>Brevipalpus</i> sp. (Acari: Tenuipalpidae), Vector of Citrus Leprosis

Some of the most destructive pests in citrus orchards are spider mites. Monitoring prior applied pest control is a standard procedure for integrated pest management (IPM). The study aimed to survey and determine the distribution, abundance, and diversity of phytophagous, predatory, and detritivorous mites at different stages of development of arboreal plant parts, weeds and litter in the citrus orchard. A periodical sampling survey method was conducted on six growth stages of mandarin citrus, weeds and litter of the Indonesian Fruits Research Institute experimental field in Solok, West Sumatra in December 2003 to June 2004. All mites attached on each growth stage of citrus, weeds and litter were trapped and mounted on slide for identification purposes. Identification of the mites was conducted in the Acarology Laboratory, Department of Entomology, University of the Philippines at Los Banos in July-October 2004. The results showed that a very rich mite fauna of 130 species was found in the arboreal parts of citrus crops, weeds and litter below the canopy of the citrus orchard. Among the trophic groups, detritivorous mites were the most abundant, followed by the predators, phytophages, and those unknown feeding habit. Among the habitats, weeds harbored the most mite species followed by litter and arboreal parts of the citrus trees. The flush growth stage had the least diverse mite fauna with index diversity (H’) of 1.27, while the most diverse (H’ = 2.01) was found at fruit development phase II. Result of this research was useful in determining proper time for controlling phytophagous mites. Besides, the result also provides important information on potential predatory mites that can be used as biological control agents. Furthermore, the study implies the importance of maintaining cover crops of weeds and litter beneath the citrus trees as refuge and source of alternate prey for predators which suppressed populations of phytophagous mites.

Some of the most destructive pests in citrus orchards are spider mites. Monitoring prior applied pest control is a standard procedure for integrated pest management (IPM). The study aimed to survey and determine the distribution, abundance, and diversity of phytophagous, predatory, and detritivorous mites at different stages of development of arboreal plant parts, weeds and litter in the citrus orchard. A periodical sampling survey method was conducted on six growth stages of mandarin citrus, weeds and litter of the Indonesian Fruits Research Institute experimental field in Solok, West Sumatra in December 2003 to June 2004. All mites attached on each growth stage of citrus, weeds and litter were trapped and mounted on slide for identification purposes. Identification of the mites was conducted in the Acarology Laboratory, Department of Entomology, University of the Philippines at Los Banos in July-October 2004. The results showed that a very rich mite fauna of 130 species was found in the arboreal parts of citrus crops, weeds and litter below the canopy of the citrus orchard. Among the trophic groups, detritivorous mites were the most abundant, followed by the predators, phytophages, and those unknown feeding habit. Among the habitats, weeds harbored the most mite species followed by litter and arboreal parts of the citrus trees. The flush growth stage had the least diverse mite fauna with index diversity (H’) of 1.27, while the most diverse (H’ = 2.01) was found at fruit development phase II. Result of this research was useful in determining proper time for controlling phytophagous mites. Besides, the result also provides important information on potential predatory mites that can be used as biological control agents. Furthermore, the study implies the importance of maintaining cover crops of weeds and litter beneath the citrus trees as refuge and source of alternate prey for predators which suppressed populations of phytophagous mites.

Crop management practices determine weed community, which in turn may influence patterns of diversity and abundance of associated arthropods. This study aimed to evaluate whether local weed management practices influence the diversity and relative abundance of phytophagous and predatory mites, as well as mites with undefined feeding habits--of the families Oribatidae and Acaridae--in a physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) plantation subjected to (1) within-row herbicide spraying and between-row mowing; (2) within-row herbicide spraying and no between-row mowing; (3) within-row weeding and between-row mowing; (4) within-row weeding and no between-row mowing; and (5) unmanaged (control). The herbicide used was glyphosate. Herbicide treatments resulted in higher diversity and relative abundance of predatory mites and mites with undefined feeding habit on physic nut shrubs. This was probably due to the toxic effects of the herbicide on mites or to removal of weeds. Within-row herbicide spraying combined with between-row mowing was the treatment that most contributed to this effect. Our results show that within-row weeds harbor important species of predatory mites and mites with undefined feeding habit. However, the dynamics of such mites in the system can be changed according to the weed management practice applied. Among the predatory mites of the family Phytoseiidae Amblydromalus sp. was the most abundant, whereas Brevipalpus phoenicis was the most frequent phytophagous mite and an unidentified oribatid species was the most frequent mite with undefined feeding habit.

En el cultivo de papayo (Carica papaya L., 1753), los ácaros fitófagos se han incrementado como resultado de un desbalance en las poblaciones por el uso excesivo de plaguicidas. Dentro de los programas de manejo integrado de plagas, es importante conocer los factores que afectan la densidad poblacional de éstas. Por ello se buscó determinar la correlación espacio temporal de ácaros fitófagos y depredadores en el cultivo de papayo en Manlio F. Altamirano, Veracruz, México. Se utilizó una huerta con manejo convencional, que incluyó la aplicación de fertilizantes y plaguicidas. Se realizaron muestreos de los ácaros en hojas colectadas en los estratos alto, medio y bajo de cada planta, una por estrato, en un total de 20 plantas. Se realizaron nueve muestreos de mayo 2007 a septiembre 2008. Eoetranychus lewisi (McGregor, 1943) fue la especie más abundante en los tres estratos, seguida de Eutetranychus banksi (McGregor, 1914), que tuvo sus mayores poblaciones en los estratos bajo y medio. Se encontró a Euseius hibisci (Chant, 1959), ácaro depredador generalista, y a Galendromus helveolus (Chant, 1959), ácaro depredador especializado en alimentarse de tetraníquidos. Se presentaron dos picos poblacionales sincrónicos entre los grupos de especies de ácaros fitófagos y depredadores. Se mostraron correlaciones positivas (r2 de 0.5 a 0.6) entre las poblaciones de ácaros fitófagos y depredadores. Temperaturas medias superiores a 30 °C y lluvia mensual acumulada superior a 200 mm abatieron las poblaciones de E. banksi. Se recomienda iniciar el muestreo de ácaros desde dos meses después del trasplante, ya que en la zona Centro del estado de Veracruz existen condiciones ambientales favorables para su desarrollo.

We compared abundance and richness of mites on Miconia albicans (Sw.) Steud. (Melastomataceae) found in Cerrado grassland (CGR) and in Cerrado sensu stricto (CSS), in order to evaluate the effect of plant physiognomy on mite assemblage structure, in the Parque Nacional das Emas, Goiás State, Brazil, a biological reserve of Cerrado biome. In total, 453 mites of 45 species belonging to 14 families were collected. Stigmaeidae was the most abundant predatory mite family, represented by a single unidentified Agistemus species. Among phytophagous mites, species of Lorryia (Tydeidae) were the most common. Lorryia turrialbensis Baker, 1968 is reported for the first time on a Cerrado plant species. We concluded that the Cerrado phytophysiognomy can determine the organization of mite assemblages since CSS sheltered higher species richness and abundance of mites on M. albicans due to has more habitat complexity, species richness and abundance of plants than CGR. Therefore, CSS can provide more food resources, microhabitats for shelter and oviposition favoring the occurrence and populational development of plant mites.

What are infochemicals?Chemical compounds play an important role in interactions between organisms. Some of these chemicals are to the benefit (e.g. nutrients) or detriment (e.g. toxins) of an organism. Others are of benefit or detriment in an indirect way: through the behavioural response they elicit. The latter chemicals are termed infochemicals (chemicals that, in the natural context, convey information in an interaction between two individuals, evoking in the receiver a behavioural or physiological response that is adaptive to either one of the interactants or both; chapter 2). On an evolutionary time scale, the fate of an infochemical depends on selection pressures on each interactant. Selection pressure is determined by costs and benefits which result from all interactions of an organism in which the infochemical is involved. Yet, for pragmatic reasons, to analyse the function of an infochemical in the biology of an organism, a cost-benefit analysis is made for each interaction between two organisms separately. In this way the cost-benefit analysis is restricted to the smallest number of interactants possible, which ensures its simplicity. Consequently, for each interaction the infochemical is classified according to the corresponding costs and benefits for the two interactants (chapter 2; cf. Nordlund and Lewis, 1976). Moreover, classification also reflects whether the interaction under consideration is between conspecifics or between individuals of different species. This resulted in the terminology represented in Figure 1.1 and Table 1.1 (cf. chapter 2). Its structure and terms are based on those of semiochemicals. However, infochemical terminology differs from semiochemical terminology in two respects (chapter 2):(1) Infochemical terminology regards compounds that convey information, whereas semiochemical terminology in addition also includes toxins (Whittaker and Feeny, 1971; Nordlund and Lewis, 1976; Nordlund, 1981). In some instances toxins or nutrients may convey information. If that is the case, these toxins and nutrients are classified as infochemicals when their role as information carrier is considered. When poisonous or nutritious aspects are considered, they are not classified as infochemicals, but as toxins and nutrients respectively.(2) Semiochemical terminology is based on origin of the compounds, in addition to the cost-benefit analysis. Although knowledge of the origin is Important to understand the interaction between two organisms, it may be very difficult to elucidate the origin (e.g. Brand et al., 1975; chapter 4). Therefore, application of the origin criterion may lead to ambiguities. Because the cost- benefit criterion by itself is good and useful, infochemical terminology is based on that criterion alone.Infochemicals in tritrophic systems.Infochemicals play a role in interactions between consecutive trophic levels (e.g plant-herbivore, phytophagous insect- entomophagous insect; Figure 1.2) (e.g. Nordlund et al., 1981; Visser, 1986). Moreover, infochemicals may also mediate interactions between other trophic levels (e.g. plant-entomophagous insect; Figure 1.2) (Price, 1981). Therefore, to understand the selection pressure on an organism, as a result of an infochemical, all trophic levels involved should be regarded. As a consequence, investigations of infochemicals in interactions between herbivores and their predators should also regard involvement of at least the first trophic level, the plant.The tritrophic system of this study: predatory mites, phytophagous mites and their host plants.The herbivore-predator system investigated most extensively in this thesis consists of phytophagous mites and predatory mites that occur in Dutch orchards. Figure 1.3a,b depicts the two most abundant phytophagous mites that occur as pest organisms in Dutch apple orchards: the apple rust mite, Aculusschlechtendali (Nalepa), and the European red spider mite, Panonychusulmi (Koch) (Van de Vrie, 1973; Van Epenhuijsen, 1981; Gruys, 1982).Several species of predatory mites occur in Dutch orchards. The most abundant of these are Typhlodromuspyri Scheuten (Figure 1.3c), Amblyseiusfinlandicus (Oudemans) and A.potentillae (Garman) (McMurtry & Van de Vrie, 1973; Overmeer, 1981; Gruys, 1982). All three species feed on P.ulmi and A.schlechtendali , as well as on other food sources such as several pollens (Overmeer, 1981; Kropczynska, 1970; Overmeer, 1985).In this system consisting of two phytophagous prey species and three predator species (Figure 1.4a), prey preference of the predators was investigated. Optimal foraging theory predicts that natural selection favours predators preferring prey species that are most profitable in terms of reproductive success (Krebs, 1978). Reproductive success is determined, among others, by development time, oviposition rate, mortality during development and offspring quality. Each of these components can be affected by the prey species consumed. As a first step in analysing which selection pressures may have moulded prey preference of the predatory mites in the system outlined above, I have tested whether prey preference is matched by the associated reproductive success. If this most simple explanation for prey preference does not hold, other explanations should be considered (see below).Do infochemicals play a role in prey preference ?Kairomones (Table 1.1, Figure 1.1) may inform predators on presence and identity of prey (Greany and Hagen, 1981) and thereby affect foraging decisions, such as where to search, how long to search at a specific site, which prey to accept and when to disperse on air currents (chapter 3).Investigation of the response to kairomones may therefore yield information on prey preference. However, the conclusion on prey preference must be restricted to the foraging phase that was studied. Relative costs involved in finding individuals of each prey species might differ for different foraging phases. Therefore, to obtain a comprehensive view of prey preference, several foraging phases should be investigated. Such analyses should be carried out independently to obtain complementary conclusions. In this study, prey preference was determined in three independent analyses.Two laboratory analyses were carried out:- Analysis of response towards volatile kairomones. This investigation regards decisions of the predators when prey individuals are not contacted, as is the situation after termination of aerial dispersal or after eradication of a prey patch.- Analysis of predation rates at different prey supplies. This relates to acceptance/rejection decisions during contacts with prey items.To complement the prey preference analyses carried out in the laboratory, an investigation was made under field conditions: - This was done by determination of diet composition by means of electrophoretic analysis of gut contents of field-collected predators.Spider-mite kairomones in a tritrophic context.Predatory mites distinguish plants infested by spider mites from clean plants by a volatile kairomone (e.g. Sabelis & Van de Baan, 1983). This kairomone seems to be a product of the interaction between plant and spider mites: after removal of spider mites from an infested plant, the plant remains attractive to the predators during several hours, whereas the mites alone do not remain attractive (Sabelis & Van de Baan, 1983; Sabelis et al., 1984a). Current data on spider mite - predatory mite interactions do not explain the role of this infochemical in the biology of the spider mites (cf. chapter 3 for a review). It may, for instance, be an inevitable byproduct of damage inflicted on the plant by the spider mite, and/or have an indispensable function in the biology of the spider mite. Moreover, the plant may be involved in production of the infochemical. To elucidate the role of this volatile infochemical, its effects in interactions between plant and spider mite, between plant and predatory mite and between spider mites of one species should be investigated. Before this can be done, chemical identification of the infochemical is a necessary first step.These investigations were made for a tritrophic system consisting of Lima bean plants, the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychusurticae Koch and the predatory mite Phytoseiuluspersimilis Athias-Henriot (Figure 1.4b). This system was chosen for practical reasons. The plant and phytophagous mite can be reared throughout the year and therefore, this system is much more suitable to develop a method for the chemical analysis of spider-mite kairomones than a system in which the plant is a perennial.Origin and function of T.urticae kairomone in a tritrophic system.Two-spotted spider mites distinguish between a clean plant and a plant that is infested by conspecifics on the basis of a volatile infochemical (chapter 4). The spider mites move away from heavily infested leaves. This response is advantageous to spider mites on the infested leaf as well as to spider mites that avoid settling on these leaves: increased competition for food is avoided, cf. Wrensch and Young (1978). In addition, the spider mite that disperses thus avoids settling on a spot that has an increased risk of being detected by predatory mites (Sabelis and Van de Baan, 1983). Therefore, the infochemical in this interaction between conspecific spider mites is called a (+,+)dispersing pheromone. Biological evidence suggests that this pheromone is (at least partly) identical to the volatile kairomone to which predatory mites respond (chapter 4).Volatiles emitted from plants infested by T.urticae were identified and subsequent behavioural analyses resulted in identification of four kairomone components that attract the predatory mite P.persimilis : linalool (3,7-dimethyl-1,6-octadiene- 3-ol), methyl salicylate, ( E )-β-ocimene (3,7-dimethyl-1,3( E ),6- octatriene) and 4,8-dimethyl-1,3( E ),7-nonatriene. The structure of these compounds is shown in Figure 1.5. At least two of these (linalool and methyl salicylate) are also components of a kairomone in the interaction between T.urticae and A.potentillae (when reared on V.faba pollen; see below) (chapter 4). Literature data on the behavioural response of T.urticae indicate that one of these kairomone components (linalool) is also a component of the (+,+)dispersing pheromone (Dabrowski and Rodriguez, 1971).All identified kairomone components are well-known in the plant kingdom. This suggests that the plant is involved in production of the infochemical, but it is no proof. It may for Instance be that spider-mite enzymes injected into the plant break down a plant compound. Investigation of e.g. site and moment of production and possible storage of precursors are needed as a next step to elucidate the role of the plant in kairomone production. However, suppose that it is the spider mite who produces the infochemical to serve as a dispersing pheromone. Then, it is not clear why this pheromone should necessarily consist of volatiles. As a result of the production of volatiles the spider mites incur more risks of being detected by predators than by production of non-volatile chemicals. Detection by predators inevitably leads to local extermination of spider mites (Sabelis and Van der Meer, 1986). For this reason it seems more likely that the volatiles are plant produced and that the spider mite makes the best of a bad job by using them as information to decide where not to colonize. To understand the evolution of plant-produced volatiles after herbivore attack, it is crucial to assess how they are produced, how much it costs to produce them and what the benefits are in terms of a lowered probability of herbivore attack.Involvement of volatile kairomones in prey preference of predatory mites.The response of T.pyri and A.potentillae to volatile kairomones is dependent on the diet of the predators. When reared on a carotenoid-poor diet these predators respond to the kairomones of more prey species than when reared on a carotenoid-rich diet (chapters 6, 7 and 8). Carotenoids are indispensable to A.potentillae because of their function in diapause induction (Overmeer, 1985a). The function of these nutrients to T.pyri remains unknown (chapter 8). All prey species to whose kairomones carotenoid-deficient A.potentillae and T.pyri respond can relieve the lack of carotenoids. Carotenoid-containing A.potentillae and T. pyri only respond to the P.ulmi kairomone. The above observations were made for predators that were starved for 20 h. Longer starvation of predators reared on a carotenoid-rich diet also enlarges the number of prey species responded to. Investigations of the response to volatile kairomones indicates that A.potentillae and T.pyri (whether carotenoids are available or not) prefer P.ulmi to A.schlechtendali (chapters 6, 7 and 8) and that A.finlandicus has a reverse preference (chapter 11).This corresponds to conclusions from predation experiments performed at different composition of prey supply (chapters 9 and 11). The observed predation rates when mixed prey supplies were offered, were compared with a model provided with parameters estimated from experiments with each of both prey species alone. Amblyseiuspotentillae and T.pyri fed more on P.ulmi and A.finlandicus fed more on A.schlechtendali than was predicted by the model. This difference between observed and predicted predation rates cannot be explained by a change in behaviour of the prey species as a result of being together, nor by a change in walking behaviour of the predator. Therefore, these data indicate that A. potentillae and T.pyri prefer P.ulmi and that A.finlandicus prefers A.schlechtendali , in terms of a change in acceptance/rejection ratio ('success ratio').Analysis of prey preference under field conditions showed that most T.pyri collected from apple leaves that widely varied in P.ulmi : A.schlechtendali numbers contained P.ulmi esterase, whereas A.schlechtendali esterase was present in a minor fraction of predators (chapter 10). Rust-mite esterase and P.ulmi esterase were found equally frequent in A.finlandicus . The data for A.finlandicus , obtained over a narrower range of prey-number ratios than for T.pyri , do not allow a definite conclusion on prey preference. However, they certainly do not cause rejection of the conclusion on prey preference as obtained in the laboratory analyses (chapter 11). No field data are available for A.potentillae .Because the conclusions on prey preference as determined in these independent analyses are consistent for each predator species, the inference on prey preference is firmly established.Prey preference and reproductive success of predatory mites in an orchard system with two species of phytophagous prey mites.Analysis of reproductive success of these three predator species, when feeding on either P.ulmi or A.schlechtendali , indicates that A.finlandicus selects the best prey species in terms of reproductive success. This predator species suffers high larval mortality on P.ulmi , but not on A.schlechtendali . This results in a much higher intrinsic rate of population increase when feeding on apple rust mites (chapter 12).Amblyseiuspotentillae and T.pyri would also do better by feeding preferentially on A.schlechtendali : development times when feeding on this prey species are shorter than when feeding on P.ulmi , whereas these prey species do not differentially affect mortality or oviposition rate (chapter 12). For A.potentillae this may not be the case at the end of the season because P.ulmi is a better prey species in terms of diapause induction. Thus, on the basis of current data, optimal prey-choice theory cannot satisfactorily predict actual prey peference of A.potentillae and T.pyri . Future investigations should concentrate on e.g. (1) possible effect of competition between prey species on prey availability, (2) possible effect of competition between predator species on prey availability, and (3) possible shift in prey preference during the season.

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background. &lt;/strong&gt;In the Pacific region of the central provinces of Panama, cashew (&lt;em&gt;Anacardium occidentale&lt;/em&gt; L.) and mango (&lt;em&gt;Mangifera indica&lt;/em&gt; L.) trees in residential and commercial patios are used to obtain fruits that complement the Panamanian population diet. However, mites and the damage associated with them are poorly known in this country. The importance of knowing the mites associated with these fruit trees lies in understanding the interactions of the functional groups of mites present, especially phytophagous and predatory mites, which can significantly impact the development of these fruit trees. &lt;strong&gt;Objective. &lt;/strong&gt;To identify mites associated with mango and cashew in the Pacific region of the central provinces of Panama. &lt;strong&gt;Methodology. &lt;/strong&gt;Sampling was made in the provinces of Coclé, Herrera, Los Santos, and Veraguas. Three locations per province were sampled, for a total of 12 locations per fruit tree, between June 2022 and December 2023. Leaf litter near the base of the stem, foliage of the middle part and crown of the trees were collected. The specimens of mites associated with fruit trees, province, date, stratum within the plant, feeding habit, and morphospecies identification were recorded.&lt;strong&gt; Results. &lt;/strong&gt;A total of 1807 mite specimens were captured, of which 55 % (999 specimens) were in mango and 45 % (808 specimens) in cashew. Morphospecies of mites were identified within the strata of mango and cashew plants. Among the phytophagous species distinguished &lt;em&gt;Brevipalpus yothersi &lt;/em&gt;Baker,&lt;em&gt; Oligonychus &lt;/em&gt;sp.&lt;em&gt;, Cisaberoptus kenyae &lt;/em&gt;Keifer, and &lt;em&gt;Tetranychus urticae&lt;/em&gt; Koch. &lt;strong&gt;Implications.&lt;/strong&gt; This research involves the importance of knowing the diversity of mites within various strata of plants. &lt;strong&gt;Conclusions. &lt;/strong&gt;In the region of the central provinces of Panama, the presence of a diversity of species of phytophagous, predatory, fungivorous, and detritivorous mites was determined within the agroecosystem offered by the strata of mango and cashew trees.&lt;/p&gt;

This study investigated mite biodiversity and density on Capsicum annuum in temperate (Bursa and Yalova provinces) and semi-arid (Ankara province) zones of Turkey from 2009 to 2010. A total of twenty-six phytophagous, predatory and generalist mite species were established on pepper leaves. Tetranychus urticae (Tetranychidae) was the single predominant species on the plants in all zones, while Phytoseius plumifer, Neoseiulus californicus (Phytoseiidae) and Tarsonemus bifurcatus (Tarsonemidae) were found to be other common species. Mite diversity and density were higher in temperate zone provinces than in Ankara, which has semi-arid conditions. This variation was significantly correlated with high humidity in the temperate zone, but only for phytophagous mites. The highest number of predatory species was found in the temperate zone, a finding also correlated with humidity, but not significantly. Although phytophagous mite diversity was lower than that of predatory mites in both zones, phytophagous mites were more than abundant than both predatory and generalist mites. The current study observed a significantly high population density of T. urticae from late July to mid August of 2010 and 2011. The sharp decline in T. urticae density on pepper was found to be associated with the onset of rainfall in June and September. Consequently, similar population growth patterns in phytoseiids [Neoseiulus bicaudus, N. californicus and Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) recki in Bursa and Yalova; Phytoseius plumifer in Ankara] were found in all zones and in both years. Generally, predatory mite density showed a gradually increasing population growth pattern from late July to early October.

The study was carried out to detect phytophagous and predatory mites on rosehip (Rosa canina L.) (Rosaceae) in Ankara, Turkey. The samples were collected monthly from Ayaş, Çubuk, Gölbaşı, Haymana, Kahramankazan and Kızılcahamam districts of Ankara province from March to November between 2012 and 2014. As a result, a total of 12 mite species were identified namely; Amphitetranychus viennensis (Zacher), Bryobia kissophila Eyndhoven, Eotetranychus populi (Koch), Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), Cenopalpus pulcher (Canestrini and Fanzago) (Acari: Tenuipalpidae), Tarsonemus smithi Ewing (Acari: Tarsonemidae) as phytophagous mites, and Euseius finlandicus (Oudemans), Kampimodromus aberrans (Oudemans), Paraseiulus triporus (Chant and Yoshida-Shaul), Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) bagdasarjani Wainstein and Arutunjan, T. (A.) psyllakisi (Swirski and Ragusa) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and Zetzellia mali (Ewing) (Acari: Stigmaeidae) as predatory mites. Tetranychus urticae and K. aberrans are the most common phytophagous and predatory mites, respectively. Tarsonemus smithi is a new record for the Turkish fauna.

The results of long-term research on tetranychid and phytoseiid mites in the Transcarpathian region of Ukraine are summarized. Transcarpathian Tetranychoidea are represented by 28 species from 10 genera, and the same list for Phytoseiidae included 49 species from 11 genera. For 77 species of mites from 21 genera, species composition, abundance, trophic specialization, and biotopic distribution in different altitudinal zones of Transcarpathia, Ukraine was analysed. Ten species of tetranychid mites (Bryobia rubrioculus, Tetranyhus horridus, Amphytetranyhus viennensis, Eotetranycuus carpini, E. quercicola, Neotetranychus rubi, Oligonychus ununguis, Panonychus ulmi, T. turkestani and T. urticae), and 11 species of phytoseiid mites (Neoseiulus umbraticus, Kampimodromus aberrans, Amblyseius andersoni, A. rademacheri, Euseius ucrainicus, Dubininellus echinus, D. juvenis, Typhloctonus aceri, T. tuberculatus, Anthoseius (A.) rhenana and A. (A.) clavata) were common to all three studied altitudinal zones. The species diversity of tetranychids was highest in the lowlands (23 species), slightly lower in the foothills (19 species), and the lowest in the mountain zone (11 species). For phytoseiid mites, it was the highest in the foothills (38 species), 25 in the lowlands and 21 in mountains. Among the tetranychids, the transzonal species A. viennensis retained its dominant status in all altitudinal zones. In the lowland, the highest rates of occurrence and dominance indices were observed for the species B. rubrioculus and T. turkestani, and in the foothills—for P. ulmi and T. horridus. The species composition of mites in the lowlands and mountains varied the most for both predators and phytophagous mites. Among the tetranychids, the most striking marker species in the mountains were P. ulmi and N. rubi. Only in the mountains were found such phytoseiid species as N. alidis, N. montanus, T. runiacus, T. mutatus, and A. salviae, which could thus be considered strictly mountainous. All of them have fragmented habitats and are tied to mountainous regions. In that altitudinal zone, an exceptionally high occurrence rate and dominance index were established for N. montanus among the phytoseiids. This is most probably due to significantly greater differences in the temperature and humidity regimes and range of host plants and, for predatory mites, prey species. The results of this study provide additional information about the structure of the communities of phytophagous and predatory mites in the natural zones of the mountain landscape and changes in the composition of the communities under the influence of environmental factors and the forage base, which is a consequence of the altitudinal distribution of the investigated biocenoses.

o beyond bioassays within laboratory or growth chambers. Few studies have investigated the miticidal activity of SNP, mostly against Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae). Despite the promising preliminary results, field evaluation of miticidal activity towards both pest and non-target organisms are still lacking. SNP were chemically synthesized utilizing trisodium citrate in excess and then miticidal activity was tested against phytophagous and predatory mites in trifoliate orange (Citrus trifoliata L.). A commercial formulation of Bifenthrin was used as reference. In laboratory, SNP showed slightly higher miticidal activity, than bifenthrin with LC50 of 29.3, 43.9 and 27.4 mg/l in SNP and 43.3, 38.9 and 31.6 mg/l in bifenthrin with efficiency factor of 1.5, 0.9 and 1.2 for P. oleivora, E. orientalis and B. obovatus, respectively. In case of SNP, it showed lower toxicity than bifenthrin towards predatory mites with LC50 of 789.9 and 656.0 mg/l in SNP and 48.2 and 45.5 mg/l in bifenthrin for P. oleivora, E. orientalis, and B. obovatus, respectively, with safety factor of 14 to 16 times for A. swirskii and P. plumifer, respectively. While in the field, LC50 values of SNP were 25.4, 36.0 and 27.0 mg/l while bifenthrin values were 39.2, 39.9, 29.7 mg/l for P. oleivora, E. orientalis and B. obovatus, respectively. SNP showed highly selective toxicity (23 times at LC50) towards phytophagous than predatory mites (P= 0.0001), whereas bifenthrin showed no selectivity (P= 0.750). Moreover, residues of SNP provided a 14-days prolonged activity against infesting mites. Exhibiting high selectivity towards the phytophagous mites, residues of SNP slightly affected the predatory ones. SNP showed comparable efficacy to bifenthrin for control of moving stages of P. oleivora, E. orientalis and B. obovatus mites and surpassed bifenthrin in ovicidal activity and saving associated predatory mites. SNP may be utilized for control of P. oleivora, E. orientalis, and B. obovatus mites in orange.

During summer 2015, 192 samples of foliage were taken from 13 different Prunus species found mostly along the Ottawa River (Quebec, Ontario; 148 samples) and in the Vineland region (Ontario; 44 samples). A total of 39 mites species were collected. Estimators of the true species diversity indicated that most of the mite fauna in the areas sampled was captured. One eriophyid mite species appears to represent a new species for science. In terms of host range, phytoseiids appear to be less specific than eriophyoids and both taxa can exhibit host preferences. In addition to providing an overview of the mite fauna of Prunus foliage and galls, this project provides two identification keys to the eriophyid mite species associated with galls, one based on the mite morphology, and the other based on the morphology of the galls.Keywords:Prunus; phytophagous mites; predatory mites; survey; biodiversity.