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.