Acarologia (2000) 41, 109-126

D. Markoyiannaki Printzioui, P. Papaioannou-Souliotis, G. Zeginis and C. Giatropoulos (2000)
Observations on acarofauna in four apple orchards of central Greece. I. Incidence of pedoclimatic conditions and agricultural techniques on phytoseiid mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae)
Acarologia 41 (1-2), 109-126
Abstract: Observations were made on the biodiversity of mite species associated with apple trees under different pedoclimatic conditions and agrotechnical methods, during a three-year period (1996-I998), in apple orchards of mixed varieties of Red Delicious and Golden Delicious, located in four regions of Central Greece: Agia, Zagora, Anilio and Farma.
The predatory mites Amblyseius andersoni, Euseius finlandicus and Typhlodromus pyri constitute the most important species among the twelve phytoseiid mites collected. A. andersoni is the dominant species in the lowland orchard of Agia, E. finlandicus in the highland orchards of Zagora and Anilio, where, with T. pyri, they are the most important predators, while in the orchard in the Farma plateau the populations of E. finlandicus alternate with those of A. andersoni. These were followed by Neoseiulus californicus in Agia, Phytoseius macropilis in Farma and Typhlodromus cotoneastri in the orchards of Zagora and Anilio. Their relative population densities reached low levels, while the remaining species that were collected could be considered as sporadic or occasional.
Four phytophagous species were found: Panonychus ulmi, Tetranychus urticae, Amphitetranychus viennensis (Tetranychus viennensis) and Aculus schlechtendali. Their presence varies between regions, sometimes showing high population densities and causing economic damage to apple orchards in Central Greece.
The population levels of A. andersoni, E. finlandicus and T. pyri reached peaks during the months of summer (July and August) in the respective regions where they were present. The tolerance of their populations to treatments with fungicides (especially sulfur, copper compounds, pyrimidines and triazoles) and selective insecticides observed during the three-year survey is probably due to the development of tolerant strains.
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Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
surveys/sampling/distribution
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
surveys/distribution/isolation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Panonychus ulmi	Apple (Malus)	Greece
	Tetranychus urticae	Apple (Malus)	Greece
	Aculus schlechtendali	Apple (Malus)	Greece
	Amphitetranychus viennensis	Apple (Malus)	Greece
Neoseiulus californicus (predator)			Greece
Typhlodromus pyri (predator)			Greece
Amblyseius andersoni (predator)			Greece
Euseius finlandicus (predator)			Greece