ABSTRACT
Two false spider mite species (Tetranychoidea: Tenuipalpidae) are reported in Greece. One new species, Aegyptobia insularis Stathakis and Vrettos sp. nov., collected from the Mediterranean shrub Phagnalon rupestre ssp. graecum (Asteraceae), is described. Dolichotetranychus summersi Pritchard and Baker is found on a new and probably natural host plant, the common couch grass Elymus repens (Poaceae); this is the first record of this mite in the Palearctic region. Females and deutonymphs of D. summersi are redescribed, based on the specimens from Greece.
Subject(s)
Acari , Tetranychidae , Female , Animals , Greece , Plants , PoaceaeABSTRACT
In the present study, the potential of hedgerows from Mediterranean aromatic plant species, i.e., oregano, rosemary, sage, and savory, in orange field margins to function as reservoirs of natural enemies of citrus pests was tested in comparison to the common management practice of bare soil or weed vegetation. Assessments were based on the abundance and diversity of parasitoid wasps, spiders, and insect predators in the field margins and on the orange trees for two growing seasons. Savory plants harbored more parasitoids compared to weed vegetation and the other aromatic plants (savory > organic rosemary > sage > oregano). Weed vegetation hosted more arachnid predators than the aromatic plants in their first year in the orchard, but this was reversed with their full growth in the following year (most abundant on rosemary). Oregano and sage favor insect predators. The similarity of the natural enemy communities on the field margins and on the orange trees increased with time, indicating the insects' movement from the field margins to the trees. The results support the use of the tested aromatic plant species in conservation practices for targeted groups of beneficial arthropods in orange orchards, also considering the exploitation of suitable wild flowering plants of the weed flora.
ABSTRACT
The present study summarizes the previous limited knowledge on the genus Eustigmaeus from Greece. Based on material collected from many localities, nine species are recorded from Greece for the first time and four species, Eustigmaeus irregularis sp. nov., E. fantinoui sp. nov., E. microvacuolatus sp. nov., and E. capitatus sp. nov. are described as new to science. Additionally, males of five known species of Eustigmaeus are described for the first time. A list of the world species of the genus Eustigmaeus and a key to species of this genus recorded in Greece are provided.
Subject(s)
Mites/classification , Animal Distribution , Animal Structures/anatomy & histology , Animal Structures/growth & development , Animals , Body Size , Female , Greece , Male , Mites/anatomy & histology , Mites/growth & development , Organ SizeABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Mites/classification , Animal Structures/anatomy & histology , Animal Structures/growth & development , Animals , Body Size , Female , Male , Mites/anatomy & histology , Mites/growth & development , Organ Size , TurkeyABSTRACT
The genus Agistemus Summers (Acari: Stigmaeidae) is reported for the first time in Greece. Agistemus duzgunesae Koç, Çobanoglu & Madanlar, a new record for the Greek fauna, is re-described and illustrated based on specimens collected from various plants. Furthermore, Agistemus macrosetosus Stathakis & Kapaxidi n. sp. is described and illustrated based on specimens collected on Rubus sp. A list of all species of the genus Agistemus is provided.
Subject(s)
Acari/classification , Acari/anatomy & histology , Acari/growth & development , Animal Distribution , Animal Structures/anatomy & histology , Animal Structures/growth & development , Animals , Body Size , Female , Greece , Male , SeasonsABSTRACT
Two new species, Neoseiulus elisiensis n. sp. and Neoseiulus neomarginatus n. sp., are described from Greece. Neoseiulus leucophaeus (Athias-Henriot) is re-described and illustrated based on specimens collected on Thymelaea hirsuta (L.) Endl. A key to all species of the genus Neoseiulus Hughes reported from Greece is provided.
