Toxicity and risk assessment of acaricides on the predatory mite, Euseius scutalis (Athias-Henriot) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) under laboratory conditions.

Predatory mites belonging to family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) have long been considered as the most promising candidates for biological control of some economically important plant feeding mites and insects. Among them, Euseius scutalis (Athias-Henriot) is one of the most abundant predators and can be considered as an important component for integrated pest management (IPM) programs in Mediterranean citrus orchards. Evaluation of non-target and toxic effects of pesticides is crucial to measure their threats to E. scutalis. In this study, the effects of some selected acaricides (abamectin, etoxazole, spirodiclofen, spirotetramat and pyridaben), that were widely used in citrus orchards, on eggs, larvae, and adult females of E. scutalis were determined under laboratory conditions. In order to observe some possible results at "worst-case scenario", the test units were sprayed at maximum recommended doses. According to the results, abamectin and pyridaben respectively caused 18.00% and 33.50% mortality on eggs, 57.33% and 65.33% on larvae, 23.33% and 44.00% on adult females. While etoxazole was only toxic to the larvae with mortality rates reaching 55.33%, spirodiclofen and spirotetramat were harmless to all developmental stages of the predatory mite. In addition, abamectin, etoxazole and pyridaben caused a significant reduction in the egg production of E. scutalis when compared to the control. Accordingly, spirodiclofen and spirotetramat may be compatible with E. scutalis in IPM programs where it is implemented as a predator. However, further semi-field and/or field experiments are essential in order to draw a final conclusion on compatibility of the other three acaricides.

Three new species of the family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) from Turkey.

Three new species of the family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) are described and illustrated based on female specimens collected from various plants in Turkey-Eharius denizliensis Döker & Kazak sp. nov., Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) karaisaliensis Döker & Kazak sp. nov. and Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) papadoulisi Döker & Kazak sp. nov.

Analysis of Species, Subgroups, and Endosymbionts of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) From Southwestern Cotton Fields in Turkey.

Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is one of the most important insect pests worldwide including Turkey. Although there are substantial data regarding species composition of Turkish B. tabaci populations, the situation is still not clear and further investigations are needed. Therefore, in this study, species and subgroups of B. tabaci collected from cotton fields in southwestern part of Turkey (Antalya, Aydin, Denizli, and Mugla) were determined using microsatellite analysis, AluI-based mtCOI polymerase chain reaction-random length polymorphism, and sequencing. Secondary endosymbionts were also determined using diagnostic species-specific PCR. Middle East Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1), Mediterranean (MED) Q1, and MED Q2 were the species and subgroups found in this study. The MED species (85.3%) were found to be more dominant than MEAM1. Species status of B. tabaci varied depending on the location. Although all samples collected from Aydin were found to be Q1, three species and subgroups were found in Mugla. Secondary endosymbionts varied according to species and subgroups. Arsenophonus was found only from Q2, while Hamiltonella was detected in MEAM1 and Q1. In addition, high Rickettsia and low Wolbachia infections were detected in MEAM1 and Q1 populations, respectively. In conclusion, for the first time, we report the presence and symbiotic communities of Q1 from Turkey. We also found that the symbiont complement of the Q1 is more congruent with Q1 from Greece than other regions of the world, which may have some interesting implications for movement of this invasive subgroup.

A new species and two new records of the family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) from Turkey.

Phytoseius ibrahimi Döker & Kazak sp. nov. is described and illustrated. The genus Paragigagnathus Amitai & Grinberg, represented by P. insuetus (Livshitz & Kuznetsov), and Neoseiulus neomarginatus Stathakis, Kapaxidi & Papadoulis, are recorded from Turkey for the first time. Identification keys for the Turkish species of Phytoseius Ribaga and Neoseiulus Hughes are provided.

Compatibility of reduced-risk insecticides with the non-target predatory mite Iphiseius degenerans (Acari: Phytoseiidae).

BACKGROUND: Iphiseius degenerans (Berlese) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is a common predatory mite in citrus orchards in some areas of the Mediterranean basin and an important biological control agent of the thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programmes in greenhouse crops. In this study, we evaluated the effects of the 'reduced-risk' insecticides acetamiprid, chlorantraniliprole, flubendiamide, metaflumizone, methoxyfenozide, spinetoram and thiamethoxam on I. degenerans, as a means of testing their compatibility in IPM programmes. RESULTS: Although all pesticides decreased immature survival, high mortality was only recorded for young larvae when exposed to acetamiprid, while metaflumizone, thiamethoxam and spinetoram resulted in intermediate lethal effects. The estimated LC50 values of acetamiprid, spinetoram and thiamethoxam for I. degenerans females were 0.52, 0.84 and 0.16-fold lower than the respective maximum recommended doses of the pesticides for field application. Although all pesticides tested significantly decreased fecundity, highest rates corresponded to the three pesticides already mentioned. CONCLUSION: Chlorantraniliprole, flubendiamide and methoxyfenozide may preliminarily be included in IPM programmes, whereas the effects of acetamiprid, metaflumizone, spinetoram and thiamethoxam on I. degenerans should be clarified in further field toxicological tests. This information could be useful for rationally planning and implementing pest management on a sustainable basis.

Four new records and two new species of Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) from Turkey, with a key to the Turkish species.

Four species of phytoseiid mites namely Neoseiulus knappi Zannou, Moraes, Ueckermann & Oliveira, Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) octogenipilus Kreiter, Tixier & Duso, Typhlodromus (T.) phialatus Athias-Henriot, and Typhloseiella isotricha (Athias-Henriot) are recorded for the first time from Turkey. Two new species Neoseiulus sekeroglui Döker & Stathakis n. sp. and Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) antakyaensis Stathakis & Döker n. sp. are described and illustrated. A key to the all known phytoseiid species for the Turkish fauna is also provided.