The Mite (Acari) Biodiversity and Population Fluctuation of Predominat Species in Eggplant

A study was carried out in order to determine the mite species-diversity and population fluctuations on eggplant in two provinces (Bursa and Ankara) which were located in different ecological areas of Turkey during 2009-2011. Among thirthy two species, predominant pest and predator species were Tetranychus urticae (Koch) (Acari: Tetranychidae) and Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on eggplant. Although Phytoseiidae had the greatest richness with eleven species, five species of Tetranychidae had formed 85% of mite species. Although the cosmopolite pest species, T. urticae, and predatory species Neopronematus rapidus (Kuznetsov) (Acari: Ionilidae) were found the shared, the mite species diversity between provinces was very different. Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) psyllakisi (Swirskii & Ragusa) (Phytoseiidae), N. rapidus and Zygoribatula frisiae (Oudemans) (Acari: Oribatidae) were found as the first record for Turkey’s fauna. The group increasing mite diversity was predatory mites in both provinces. The population density of T. urticae on eggplant began to increase in early June and occured four peaks in early July, August, September and October of 2010 in Bursa. Whereas, in 2011, the mites emerged in mide June and peaked three times in early July, early and late August due to intense rainfall in early June. In Ankara, spider mite populations were occurred three peaks in early August, September and October of 2010 year. Tetranychus urticae and predatory mites were observed similar time period with those on eggplant and especially N. californicus existed in a stronger clear numerical response to T. urticae population. Phytoseiids on eggplant fields emerged in early August and increased until early October