Mite (Acari) species determined in fresh onion fields in Izmir province

In this study, determination of mite species in fresh onion cultivated areas of Izmir province has been aimed. For this purpose, 319 fresh onion fields have been observed in Bayindir, Bornova, Cesme, Kemalpasa, Menemen, Tire and Torbali districts in 2006- 2008. Throughout the study, 15 mite species belong to 17 families, and 4 genera from Prostigmata, Mesostigmata and Astigmata orders, have been identified. Some of the individuals were recognized at genus, family and order levels respectively. As harmful species; Rhizoglyphus robini Claparede 1869, Tyrophagus perniciosus Zakhvatkin 1941, Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) 1781, Tyrophagus similis Volgin 1948 (Astigmata: Acaridae) and Histiostoma sapromyzarum Dufour 1839 (Astigmata: Histiostomatidae) were identified. As natural enemies; Curteria duzgunesae Saboori, Cobanoglu & Bayram 2007, Abrolophus spp. (Prostigmata: Erythraeidae), Anytis baccarum (Linnaeus) 1758 (Prostigmata: Anystidae), Ameroseius spp. (Mesostigmata: Ameroseiidae), Arctoseius cetratus Sellnick 1940, Gamasellodes bicolor Berlese 1918, Leioseius Berlese 1916 (Mesostigmata: Ascidae), Proctolaelaps scolyti Evans 1958 (Mesostigmata: Melicaridae), Alliphis sp. (Mesostigmata: Eviphididae), Macrocheles merdarius Berlese 1889 (Mesostigmata: Macrochelidae), Hypoaspis aculeifer (Canestrini) 1884 (Mesostigmata: Laelapidae), Parasitus fimetorum Berlese 1903 (Mesostigmata: Parasitidae), Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes 1948 and Neoseiulus bicaudus Wainstein 1962 (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) were determined. Among natural enemies C. duzgunesae was determined on the main pest of fresh onion Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) intensively. M. merdarius was found as a new record for the fauna of Turkey.