Phytoseiid mites on Quercus cerris in an urban park - short communication

Abstract

The community of phytoseiid mites on the leaves of non-indigenous Quercus cerris was studied in an intensively managed urban park during the years 2012-2014. Five phytoseiid species, namely Kampimodromus aberrans, Typhloseiulus peculiaris, Euseius finlandicus, Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) pyri, and Paraseiulus triporus, were found on the studied oak leaves; three of them are generalist predators. K. aberrans and T. peculiaris were the dominant species (88.5% of all sampled phytoseiids), of which K. aberrans was the significantly most abundant species on the inspected oak leaves. Non-native Q. cerris can serve as a favourable host plant and refuge for certain phytoseiid species in environmentally unfriendly urban areas.

Keywords

• phytoseiidae
• acari
• turkey oak
• species diversity
• host plant