Mite species of the vegetable crops in Ordu Province with first report of Amblyseius rademacheri Dosse, 1958 (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) in Turkey

Abstract

Turkey has suitable ecological conditions to grow a wide variety of vegetables. This research was conducted to investigate mite species on cultivated vegetables that include bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L., Fabaceae), corn (Zea mays L., Poaceae), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L., Cucurbitaceae), eggplant (Solanum melongena L., Solanaceae), leek (Allium porrum L., Alliaceae), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L., Asteraceae), onion (Allium cepa L., Alliaceae), pepper (Capsicum annuum L., Solanaceae), potato (Solanum tuberosum L., Solanaceae), radish (Raphanus sativus L., Brassicaceae), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L., Solanaceae), watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai., Cucurbitaceae) and zucchini (Cucurbita sp., Cucurbitaceae) during 2013-2015 in Ordu Province in the Black Sea Region of Turkey. The samples were taken at weekly intervals from April to October each year. A total of 2030 mite specimens were collected and examined during the study. A total of 43 mite species belonging 15 families and 30 genera were identified. Among them, Tetranychus urticae Koch, 1836 (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae) was found to be the most common phytophagous mite, while Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot, 1962 (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) was the most abundant predator. In addition, Amblyseius rademacheri Dosse, 1958 (Mesostigmata: Pyhtoseiidae) was reported for the first time in Turkey. This new record redescribed and illustrated based on the specimens collected from Solanum melongena L. (Solanaceae). An identification key for the Turkish Amblyseius is also provided.