Mite Species Exceeding the Economic Damage Threshold in the Tea Plantation Areas in Türkiye and Population Dynamics in the 2nd and 3rd Harvesting Periods

Abstract

The main goal of this study was to determine the mite species exceeding the economic damage threshold level during the 2nd and 3rd harvesting periods and population levels. This study was carried out in tea plantation areas in Artvin, Rize and Trabzon provinces from july to october in the second and third harvesting periods of 2023. Tea leaves were collected from the field by random sampling method by determining 3 districts from each province two times per month (Artvin; Sarp, Hopa Arhavi, Rize; Ardeşen, Çayeli, Derepazarı, Trabzon; Of, Sürmene 1, Sürmene 2). As a result of our study, it was determined that Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Acari: Tarsonemidae), the most common species, exceeded the economic damage threshold in all months and in all locations. Especially in the samples collected from Sarp region in September, the number of mites per leaf was recorded as 116,73. Brevipalpus phoenicis (Prostigmata: Tenuipalpidae) was detected as a second most common species and found at exceeded EDT in all months in the Sarp region. The same situation was observed in Çayelin in September. Both mite species that exceeded economic damage threshold (yellow tea mite and flat mite) were most frequently observed in september. Tetranychus urticae, Tydeus californicus, Calacarus carinatus, Tuckerella sp., mite species were found at some study points, and number of individuals did not exceed economic damage threshold except Calacarus carinatus Hopa region october samples.