The determination of mite species and their population densities on poplar trees in Samsun province, Türki̇ye

This study was carried out to determine the mite species and their densities on the foliage of poplar (Populus spp.) trees in Samsun Province between 2021 and 2023. Periodic shoot and leaf samplings were done monthly in 17 towns of Samsun Province during the vegetation period. A total of 125 samplings were done. Additionally, surveys were done at ten day intervals at three locations to determine the population densities and seasonal fluctuations of mite species. Collected leaves and shoot samples were taken to the laboratory and examined under a stereo microscope. All of the collected mites were preserved in the 70% ethyl-alcohol, cleared in lactic acid, mounted by using Hoyer's medium and then identified. Mites were found on 94.4% of the collected samples. Twenty eight species belonging to 18 genera and 9 families were identified. These species were; Tyrophagus putrescentiae Schrank (Acaridae); Aculus mogeri (Farkas), Aculus dimidiatus (Hall), Tetra lobulifera (Keifer) (Eriophyidae); Brevipalpus lewisi (McGregor), Brevipalpus recki (Livshitz & Mitrofanov) (Tenuipalpidae); Eotetranychus populi (Koch) (Tetranychidae); Amblydromalus limonicus (Garman & McGregor), Neoseiulus fauveli (Athias–Henriot), Typhlodromips sessor (De Leon), Amblyseius andersoni (Chant), Amblyseius bryophilus Karg, Euseius gallicus (Kreiter & Tixier), Euseius stipulatus (Athias–Henriot), Transeius wainsteini (Gomelauri), Paraseiulus triporus (Chant & Yoshida–Shaul), Typhlodromina sp. (Phytoseiidae); Tarsonemus waitei Banks, Tarsonemus confusus Ewing, Tarsonemus bachmaieri Cooreman, Tarsonemus piliger Schlechtendal, Tarsonemus smithi Ewing (Tarsonemidae); Tydeus nr californicus Oudemans, Tydeus spathulatus Oudemans, Brachytydeus nr bakeri (Zaher & El Bagoury), Brachytydeus nr zebramontanus Meyer (Tydeidae); Triophtydeus triophthalmus (Oudemans) (Triophtydeidae); and Pronematus ubiquitus (McGregor) (Iolinidae). Among these 28 species, eight species, T. lobulifera, A. limonicus, T. sessor, N. fauveli, B. nr bakeri, B. nr zebramontanus, T. bachmaieri and T. piliger, are new records for Türkiye. Additionally, Typhlodromina sp. is also the new record at the genus level. Aculus mogeri was the most abundant phytophagous mite and T. spathulatus was the most abundant predatory species. The presence of 16 predatory species indicates that some degree of biological control of phytophagous species is occuring.