Abstract:

A survey was conducted in North Western Region (Bursa – Yalova cities) and central Anatolia (Ankara city) of Turkey, during 2009-2010 to evaluate the mite diversity and population fluctuation on tomato plants. Thirty-four plant parasitic, predatory and neutral mite species were identified belonging to 14 mite families namely Tetranychidae, Eriophyidae, Tenuipalpidae, Bdellidae, Phytoseiidae, Stigmaeidae, Ascidae, Parasitidae, Ameroseiidae, Acaridae, Tydeidae, Iolinidae, Tarsonemidae and Oribatidae. Among these species, the plant parasitic mites, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Tetranychidae), Eotetranychus uncatus Garman and Amphitetranychus viennensis (Zacher), the predators, Pronematus ubiquitus (McG.), Neopronematus neglectus (Kuzn.) (Acari: Iolinidae) and Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and the neutrals, Tyrophagus putrescentiae Sch. (Acari: Acaridae) and Tarsonemus bifurcatus Sch. (Acari: Tarsonemidae) were predominant species and corresponded to more than 87% of the mite specimens collected during the survey. Homeopronematus anconai (Baker) and N. neglectus which species are belong to Iolinidae were found as the first record for Turkey’s fauna. Sörenson’s similarity index varied 0.40-0.57, indicating a medium similarity among the cities. According to Shannon Wiener index, the biodiversity increasing mite fauna was plant parasitic mites in Ankara and predator mites in Bursa and Yalova. The population density of T. urticae on tomato began to increase in late-May and peaked three times in mid-June, late-July and mid-September in Bursa. In Ankara, the plant parasitic mite emerged in late-July and occured three peaks in mid-August, early September and mid-October

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