The potential of the nightshade plants (Solanaceae) as reservoir plants for pest and predatory mites

Abstract

© 2015, Entomological Society of Turkey. All rights reserved. The abundance and species diversity of both plant parasitic and predatory mites were assessed on two nightshade plants species, Solanum nigrum L. around Solanacaeous vegetables in Bursa, Yalova and Ankara provinces of Turkey, and Solanum dulcamara L. in only Ankara during 2009-2010. Fourthy two and thirty-four mite species were determined from S. nigrum and S. dulcamara, recpectively. The plant parasitic mites, Tetranychus urticae Koch and Eotetranychus uncatus Garman (Acari: Tetranychidae) were predominant species on both nightshade species. Besides these polyphagous species, the worldwide pests of vegetables, Aculops lycopersici Massee (Acari: Eriophyidae) and T. turkestani Ugarov & Nycolsky (Acari: Tetranychidae) were detected as a potential pests. Because of these injouring mites are not monophagous species, the weeds take role as reservior plants for mites and allow incerasing populations of the mites in Solanacaeous vegetable areas. However, predatory mites, Neoseiulus marginatus (Wainstein), N. californicus (McGregor), Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) recki Wainstein (Acari: Phytoseiidae), Neopronematus neglectus (Kuzn.), Pronematus ubiquitus (McG.) (Acari: Iolinidae) and Zetzellia mali (Ewing) (Acari: Stigmaeidae), were identified as common species on the nightshade species. Phytoseiids and iolinids existed in a stronger clear numerical response to spider mite populations. Despite the biodiversity increasing mite fauna was predatory mites of both nihgtshades in all locations, the abundances of plant parasitic mites were very higher than those of predatory species. Aculus solani Boczek&Davis (Eriophyidae), Cheyletus baloghi Volgin (Cheyletidae) and Cheiroseius necorniger (Oud.) (Ascidae) were found the first records for the Turkish mite fauna.