TY  - JOUR
JF  - Acarologia
T1  - Phytoseiid Mites (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) Associated with Strawberry Plants in Ordu Province, Türkiye
VL  - 66
IS  - Suppl
SP  - 279
EP  - 279
PY  - 2026
SN  - 0044-586X
SN  - 2107-7207
PB  - Les Amis d'Acarologia
AU  - Rana, Akyazı
AU  - Mete, Soysal
AU  - Rana, Akyazı
AU  - Mete, Soysal
UR  - https://doi.org/10.24349/dkne-6te0
DO  - 10.24349/dkne-6te0
DA  - 2026-07-20
ET  - 2026-07-20
KW  - Biodiversity
KW  - Biological Control
KW  - Distribution
KW  - Phytoseiidae
KW  - Predatory mites
AB  - Phytoseiid mites (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) are important natural enemies of phytophagous mites and small arthropods in agricultural ecosystems. They play a key role in maintaining ecological balance and are widely used in biological control programs. Determining the diversity and distribution of phytoseiid species in crop systems is essential for developing sustainable pest management strategies. The present study aimed to determine phytoseiid mite species and their distribution across different strawberry production systems (greenhouse vs. open-field) and habitats (cultivated vs. wild) in Ordu Province, Türkiye, during the 2023-2024 vegetation period. Field surveys were conducted in cultivated and wild strawberry habitats in Ordu during the 2023 and 2024 growing seasons. Samples were collected from 13 districts, including Altinordu, Çaybasi, Fatsa, Gülyali, Gürgentepe, Ikizce, Kabadüz, Kabatas, Kumru, Mesudiye, Persembe, Ulubey and Ünye. During these surveys, leaflets, flowers, and fruit samples were taken from strawberry plants. Mites were collected under a stereo microscope using a 5/0 fine brush. Specimens were preserved in 70% ethyl alcohol. For identification, mites were cleared in lactophenol and then mounted in Hoyer’s medium. Species identification was performed using morphological characteristics. A total of 23 phytoseiid mite species belonging to the genera Amblydromalus, Amblyseius, Euseius, Neoseiulus, Phytoseiulus, Phytoseius, Proprioseiopsis, Transeius, Typhlodromus and Typhlodromips were recorded during the surveys. Of these species, Proprioseiopsis messor was detected only on wild strawberry plants, whereas Neoseiulus umbraticuswas found on both cultivated and wild strawberry plants. The others were recorded exclusively from cultivated strawberry plants. Amblyseius andersoni, Neoseiulus barkeri, Neoseiulus californicus, and Transeius wainsteini were detected in both greenhouse and open-field strawberry production systems, while the other species were obtained only from open-field conditions. Overall, the results indicate a high diversity of phytoseiid mites associated with strawberry plants in Ordu Province. The presence of numerous predatory mite species suggests considerable potential for natural biological control of pests in strawberry agroecosystems. These findings may support future studies on biological control and integrated pest management in strawberry cultivation Acknowledgment: This study was supported by Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TUBITAK) under the Grant Number 222O041. The authors thank TUBITAK for their support. The authors are also grateful to Dr. Farid FARAJI (Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam) for confirmation of species identification.
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