Studies on mite species and biology of the significant harmful species in stored agricultural products in the Southeast Anatolia Region

This study aimed to investigate mite species inhabiting wheat, barley, corn, cracked wheat, chickpeas, lentils, paddy, dried apricots, dried figs, bran, raisins and cottonseed products stored in warehouses in Diyarbakır, Mardin, Batman and Adıyaman Provinces of the Southeastern Anatolia Region between 2013 and 2015. The overall infestation rate was 21%. Identification process revealed the presence of 28 mite species belonging to 3 orders, 19 families and 22 genera. Paraneognathous wangae (Fan ve Li) (Prostigmata; Caligonellidae), Brachytydeus armindae (Momen ve Lundqvist, 2005) (Prostigmata: Tydeidae) and Brachytydeus maga (Prostigmata; Tydeidae) and Tydeus plumosus Karg (Prostigmata; Tydeidae) have been recorded as new records for Turkish mite fauna. The biology of Tyrophagus similis Volgin, 1949 (Astigmata: Acaridae), an important pest species, has been studied under laboratory conditions at three different temperatures, 15, 20, and 25 ºC and 75% relative humidity. The growth threshold of T. similis was C = 7,07 ºC and its thermal constant was ThC = 266,6 degree-days. In addition, the seasonal population density changes of mite community at different depths of the stack in wheat grain stored in two separate warehouses of a private sector flour factory in Diyarbakır and in a representative warehouse were examined. The results demonstrated that harmful species were generally encountered in the upper layer (0-50 cm) of the grain, whereas beneficial species were accumulated in the upper and middle layers (50-100 cm).