The determination of mite species and their population densities on wild edible mushrooms in the Kastamonu province, Türkiye

This study was carried out to determine the mite species and their densities on wild edible mushrooms in Kastamonu Province, Türkiye between 2021 and 2023. Periodic surveys were done monthly in 18 towns of Kastamonu Province during the vegetation period to collect the mushrooms. Mushrooms were also bought from the local markets. Of these, a total of 25 edible mushroom species were identified. The collected mushrooms were examined under a stereo-microscope and then processed through Berlese funnels to extract the mites. All of the collected mites were preserved in 70% ethyl-alcohol, cleared in lacto-phenol, mounted by using Hoyer's medium, and then identified. A total of 49 species belonging to 31 families were identified. These species were Ameroseius corbicula (Sowerby, 1806) (Ameroseiidae); Asca aphidioides (Linnaeus, 1758), Zerconopsis remiger (Kramer, 1876) (Ascidae); Cilliba erlangensis Hirschmann & Zirngiebl–Nicol, 1969 (Cillibidae); Marginura sp. (Oplitidae); Gamasodes spiniger (Trägårdh, 1910), Porrhostaspis lunulata Müller, 1859, Rhabdocarpais mycophilus Karg, 1965, Anidogamasus sp., Pergamasus sp., Rhabdocarpais sp., Vulgarogamasus sp. (Parasitidae); Sejus sp. (Sejidae); Trachytes aegrota (C.L. Koch, 1841), Trachytes baloghi Hirschmann & Zirngiebl–Nicol, 1969, Trachytes sp. (Trachytidae); Uroseius acuminatus (C.L. Koch, 1847) (Polyaspididae); Crinitodiscus ozkani Bal, 2005 (Discourellidae); Olodiscus sp. (Uropodidae); Zercon insperatus Błaszak, 1979, Zercon kastamonuensis Urhan, 2019, Zercon peltatus Koch, 1836, Zercon hungaricus Sellnick, 1958 (Zerconidae); Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank, 1781), Tyrophagus sp., Schwiebea sp. (Acaridae); Lepidoglyphus destructor (Schrank, 1781), Glycyphagus domesticus (De Geer, 1778) (Glycyphagidae); Histiostoma bakeri Hughes and Jackson, 1958 (Histiostomatidae); Bdella longistriata Atyeo, 1960 (Bdellidae); Cunaxoides croceus (Koch, 1838) (Cunaxidae); Abrolophus viticolus (Fain and Cobanoglu, 1998), Abrolophus boleticolus Sevsay, Ozyurek, Balcı & Ozman-Sullivan, 2023 (Erythraeidae); Fessonia papillosa (Herman, 1804) (Smarididae); Eustigmaeus erzurumensis Dogan, 2005, Eustigmaeus dogani Khanjani, Fayaz, Mirmoayedi and Ghaedi, 2011 (Stigmaeidae); Eustigmaeus pinnatus (Kuznetsov, 1977), Eustigmaeus chilensis Chaudhri, 1965 (Stigmaeidae); Tarsonemus hermes Suski, 1966 (Tarsonemidae); Linopodes sp. (Eupodidae); Eremaeus cordiformis Grandjean, 1934 (Eremaeidae); Hermanniella sp. (Hermanniellidae); Adoristes (A.) poppei, Adoristes sp. (Liacaridae); Berniniella sp., Hypogeoppia sp. (Oppiidae); Atropacarus sp. (Phthiracaridae); Sphaerochthonius splendidus (Berlese, 1904) (Sphaerochthoniidae); Xenillus sp. (Xenillidae). Of these, A. boleticolus was described as a new species. In addition, ten species, H. bakeri, A. corbicula, A. aphidioides, Z. remiger, C. erlangensis, G. spiniger, R. mycophilus, T. aegrota, B. longistriata and C. croceus, are new records for Türkiye. The seasonal fluctuations of the mite species were also determined. Their populations were high in June. This rich mite fauna associated with wild edible mushrooms is likely to be indicative of a much richer total mite fauna in the highly biodiverse native forests of Kastamonu Province, whose protection should be a high priority.