Seasonal population dynamics of Aceria oleae (Nalepa, 1900) (Acari: Eriophyidae) in generative organs of olives in Hatay Province, Turkey

Abstract

Olive, Olea europaea L., is an evergreen tree native to areas with Mediterranean climates. Its fruit and oil are key ingredients in the Mediterranean cuisine. Olive gall mite, Aceria oleae (Nalepa, 1900) (Acari: Eriophyidae) is a mite species that feeds on olive leaves, buds or flowers. This study was conducted to determine the population dynamics of A. oleae in generative organs of olive in Altınözü, Antakya and Samandağ Districts of Hatay between in April and October 2017 and 2018. The highest mite density was detected in Altınözü during the flowering period in 2017 and the budding period in 2018; and a second peak was seen during fruiting period for both years. A peak occurred in samples collected from Antakya for both years (in fruit stage, June 2017, and in budding stage, April 2018) but no prominent peak was noted Samandağ samples. A high rate of flower and fruit dropping was observed and this concurred with noticeable decreases in A. oleae population in Altınözü and Antakya Districts in both years. Three phytoseiid species, Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) athenas Swirski & Ragusa, 1976 (44%), Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) rapidus Wainstein & Arutunjan, 1968 (29%) and Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) athiasae Porath & Swirski, 1965 (26%) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) were detected in these orchards. It is thought they probably fed on A. oleae since their primary prey, tetranychid mites were unavailable. Correlation results showed that population sizes of A. oleae did not decrease significantly with temperature and humidity in 2017. In 2018, the population was negatively correlated with temperature, but no significant increase occurred as humidity rose.

Population Dynamics of Peach Silver Mite Aculus fockeui (Nalepa and Trouessart) (Acari: Eriophyidae) on Plum, Prunus domestica, and Peach, Prunus persica, (Rosaceae) in Yalova-Turkey

“…It is becoming increasingly important to conserve biological control agents in our agricultural systems. Approximately 138 eriophyoid mite species have been recorded in Turkey to date (Denizhan et al 2015(Denizhan et al , 2022, and our ecological research knowledge is still limited (Ersin et al 2020;Gökçe et al 2020;Kaya 2020). Therefore, additional ecological and biodiversity studies should be performed to help increase our knowledge and to further develop natural control management strategies for A. fockeui.…”

Important insect pests in winter vegetables grown in Beydere Seed Certification Test Directorate

“…This method was used to capture motile or low-motility species in vegetable production areas and to determine their population densities. In this context, starting from the inside of each trial area, a total of 50 sweep nets, 10 of them, were shaken by contacting randomly and sweeping the plants in every 15-20 steps in the direction of the diagonal by contacting the plants in a way that sweeps the plants (Anonymous 2023a, Kaya and Kornoşor 2008). Pests caught in the sweep net were put in kill bottles or in transparent polyethylene bags, killed with a few drops of ethyl acetate dripped on blotting paper, and brought to the laboratory in an ice container with the label containing the collection information (Ölmez et al 2021).…”

Toxic effects of some acaricides on Aceria oleae (Nalepa, 1900) (Acari: Eriophyidae) and its predator Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor, 1954) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) under laboratory conditions

“…With 26-82% infestation rate of trees and 8-59% injury rate of fruit, this pest is a serious olive pest in some locations with moist conditions in the Mediterranean Basin (Avidov & Harpaz, 1969;Hatzinikolis, 1986;Abou-Awad et al, 2000;Tzanakakis, 2003;Shahini et al, 2009;Chatti et al, 2017). Previous studies reported three eriophyid mite species from olive trees of Turkey: A. oleae, Aculus olearius Castagnoli, 1977 and Tegolophus hassani (Keifer, 1959) (Kumral & Kovancı, 2004;Çetin & Alaoğlu, 2006;Kaçar et al, 2010;Çetin et al, 2012;Denizhan et al, 2015;Ersin et al, 2020;Kaya, 2020). Among these mites, A. oleae was reported as the predominant species in Marmara, Eagan and Mediterranean Regions (Alkan, 1952;Kumral & Kovancı, 2004;Kaçar et al, 2010;Kaya, 2020).…”

“…Previous studies reported three eriophyid mite species from olive trees of Turkey: A. oleae, Aculus olearius Castagnoli, 1977 and Tegolophus hassani (Keifer, 1959) (Kumral & Kovancı, 2004;Çetin & Alaoğlu, 2006;Kaçar et al, 2010;Çetin et al, 2012;Denizhan et al, 2015;Ersin et al, 2020;Kaya, 2020). Among these mites, A. oleae was reported as the predominant species in Marmara, Eagan and Mediterranean Regions (Alkan, 1952;Kumral & Kovancı, 2004;Kaçar et al, 2010;Kaya, 2020).…”

“…Among these agents, phytoseiids can control eriophyid mites successfully (Gerson et al 2003). Also, several phytoseiid mite species related to eriophyid mite populations in olive trees, Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) athiasae Porath & Swirski, 1965, Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) rarus Wainstein, 1961, Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) recki Wainstein, 1958 psyllakisi Swirski & Ragusa, 1976, Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) involutus Livshitz & Kuznetsov, 1972, Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) athenas Swirski & Ragusa, 1976, Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) rapidus Wainstein & Arutunjan, 1968, Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor, 1954, Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes, 1948, Amblyseius andersoni (Chant, 1957, Euseius stipulatus (Athias-Henriot, 1960) and Paraseiulus talbii (Athias-Henriot, 1960), were reported in different locations by some researchers (El-Laithy, 1999;Kumral & Kovanci, 2004;Kumral et al, 2010;Chatti et al, 2017;Ersin et al, 2020;Kaya, 2020;Elhalawany et al, 2021). Also, Abou-Awad et al (2000) reported that phytoseiids are capable of preventing the outbreak of A. oleae in olive groves.…”