During 2005-2007, 1,332 individuals of predatory mites were found in integrated and ecological orchards in Slovakia. Seven predatory mite species of the family Phytoseiidae, namely Phytoseius echinus, Phytoseiulus macropilis, Euseius finlandicus, Typhlodromus pyri, Paraseiulus triporus, Amblyseius andersoni and Neoseiulella tiliarum, were identified. Out of 1,332 individuals, 519 (39.0%) were found in the apple orchards and 813 (61.0%) in the pear orchards. Out of all predatory mite individuals, 460 (34.5%) were found in the integrated pest management system (IPM) and 872 (65.5%) in the ecological pest management system (EPM). In apple orchards, P. echinus was dominant and constituted 49.3% of the detected mites. In pear orchards, E. finlandicus was dominant and constituted 48.7% of the detected mites. Typhlodromus pyri was also abundant, especially in pear orchards. The other species were less abundant.

Praslička J., Barteková A. (2008): Occurrence of predatory mites of the Phytoseiidae family on apple-trees in integrated and ecological orchards. Plant Protect. Sci., 44: 57-60.During the 2005-2007, we identified six species of predatory mites in the integrated and an ecological orchard: Phytoseius echinus, Phytoseius macropilis, Euseius finlandicus, Typhlodromus pyri, Paraseiulus triporus and Amblyseius andersoni. The species Phytoseius echinus, Euseius finlandicus and Typhlodromus pyri occurred in both orchards. Phytoseius echinus was dominant especially in the ecological orchard, where its abundance was almost 60% of the overall number of detected mites. The number of all predatory mites differed considerably in the orchards; there was a higher abundance in the ecological orchard. Euseius finlandicus abundance was 38.32% in the integrated orchard and almost 17.61% in the ecological orchard. Typhlodromus pyri abundance was 17.96% in the integrated orchard and 13.63% in the ecological orchard. Paraseiulus triporus, Amblyseius andersoni and Phytoseius macropilis were less abundant.