Edaphic gamasida (Arachnida: Acari) at Piracicaba, State of São Paulo

Abstract

The objectives of this work were to identify the edaphic mites collected in Piracicaba, State of São Paulo, and to determine the specific predominance in each of the environments studied. Soil samples were collected in three different environments, namely in an area of secondary forest, an area of perennial crops, represented by a rubber tree plantation (Hevea brasiliensis Müll. Arg.), clone RRIM 600 and an area of annual crops (corn followed by bean). Litter samples were collected in the patch of secondary forest and the rubber tree plantation. The edaphic mites were extracted through a modification of the Berlese-Tullgren method. A total of 49 species in 30 genera of Gamasida were identified in the soil and litter substrata. In the soil, the most abundant species in the secondary forest were Ologamasus sp. 1 (Ologamasidae) and Cosmolaelaps sp. 1 (Laelapidae). In the rubber tree plantation, Vulgarogamasus sp. (Parasitidae) and Cosmolaelaps sp. 2 (Laelapidae) were the most abundant species. In the area of annual crops, Protogamasellus mica (Athias-Henriot) (Ascidae) was by far the dominant species. In the litter, the most abundant species in the secondary forest were Ologamasus sp. 1 and Ologamasus sp. 2 (Ologamasidae), Podocinum sagax Berlese (Podocinidae) and Cosmolaelaps sp. 1 (Laelapidae), while in the rubber tree plantation the dominant species were Cosmolaelaps sp. 2 (Laelapidae) and Amblyseius hexadens Karg (Phytoseiidae).