Phytoseiid mites (Parasitiformes, Phytoseiidae) associated with cultivated and spontaneous plants in a complex agroecosystem

Abstract

Data on the specific composition, dynamics of populations, and similarities among
phytoseiid species associated with various cultivated and spontaneous plants
present in a complex agroecosystem, are here reported. 11 species, belonging to
7 genera, have been collected. Euseius stipulatus (Athias-Henriot) was the most
frequently found species on all the surveyed plants, followed by Euseius finlandicus
(Oudemans) (91%). Typhlodromus exhilaratus Ragusa and Amblyseius
andersoni (Chant) were found on 73% of plants, while the remaining species were
sporadically collected. E. stipulatus was the dominant species on vines, on spontaneous
herbaceous plants and asparagus, maize and turnip tops, while E. finlan-dicus was the dominant species on nuts, tomatoes and potatoes. High values of
similarity were ascertained between the two cultivars of vines, spontaneous herbaceous
plants present between rows and white willows (0.80-0.89) as well as
between nuts and asparagus (0.71). The data obtained and analysed show an
exchange of phytoseiid species among the different plant species present in the
agroecosystem even if the permanence of the various species on various plants is
most probably linked to the preference of each species towards the habitats offered
by the various plants.