New records and complementary description of two Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) species from Türkiye

OpenAlex İngilizce

A preliminary survey was conducted in Kaz Dağları, also known as Mount Ida, one of the regions considered a biodiversity rich region due to its wide range of floral diversity at the westernmost point of Türkiye. As a result, we found two species of phytoseiids associated with unknown eriophyoid mite species on two different endemic plants in Kaz Dağları. Neoseiulus vasoides (Karg) and Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) ernesti Ragusa and Swirski were collected from Sideritis trojana Bornm. (Lamiaceae) and Abies nordmanniana subsp. equi-trojani (Asch. and Sint. ex Boiss.) Coode and Cullen (Pinaceae) at high elevations of 1726 meters and 1350 meters, respectively. The new species records are complementarily described and illustrated based on Turkish specimens, including detailed descriptions of leg chaetotaxy. Important diagnostic characters of the new species records are provided to further improve diagnosis and to avoid any confusion regarding the species status of the Turkish specimens.