Spider mite predator Feltiella acarisuga (Vallot, 1827) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in greenhouse strawberry cultivation in Antalya Province: recognition, population dynamics and parasitization by Aphanogmus sp.

Abstract

Feltiella acarisuga (Vallot, 1827) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) is an effective and common beneficial species that feeds on many species of Tetranychid mites. Although it has been detected in Turkey, there are few studies on this predatory species. In this study, weekly leaf samples were taken to represent the growing area in the soilless strawberry greenhouse of Akdeniz University in 2020 and 2021. In leaf examinations, it was determined that F. acarisuga had an average egg size of 0.21 mm, young and mature larva of 0.26-1.51 mm, and a cocoon size of 2.01 mm. The average body length of male and female individuals was measured as 0.89 mm and 1.11 mm, respectively. It was determined that F. acarisuga can feed on all biological stages of Tetranychus urticae Koch, 1836 (Acari: Tetranychidae), as eggs, larvae, nymphs and adults were seen in the greenhouse in all seasons. Feltiella acarisuga is the most common natural enemy of T. urticae , with a maximum average of 0.38 larvae + cocoons/leaf in the greenhouse in the first year and 0.62 larvae + cocoons/leaf in the second year. In this study, a new species was detected, Aphanogmus sp., which was determined to be the parasitoid of F. acarisuga and different from its known congeners. The parasitization rate of F. acarisuga was found to be between 0 and 51.5%.