Overview of the predatory mite complexes (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in Serbia

Abstract: An overview of the diversity and structures of phytoseiid complexes in Serbia is
presented. In the period 1981-2022, we created a database of 51 species of phytoseiids from 15 genera and 3 subfamilies, collected on 213 plant species from 142 genera and 57 families
throughout Serbia. Using the constancy index and the Jaccard index, we analyzed data on
phytoseiids collected on the plant genera Malus, Prunus, Corylus, Rubus, Juglans, Quercus,
and Vitis. The cohabitation analysis showed the presence of single species, two, three or four
species in phytoseiid complexes (71.4 %, 21.4 %, 5.6 % and 1.6 % of cases, respectively). We
analyzed the complementarity of species in coexistence, especially in cases where two species
were present. Following the classification of phytoseiids by life strategies, we identified 12
different combinations of pairs, of which the most frequent combinations were: III-b – IV, IIIa – IV, III-a – II-b, III-b – III-b and III-a – III-a. In general, the most common phytoseiid species in Serbia are: Euseius finlandicus, a generalist of group IV, Typhlodromus (A.) rhenanus and Amblyseius andersoni, both generalists of group III-b, Kampimodromus aberrans and Neoseiulella tiliarum, both generalists of group III-a. The analysis of the interspecific association of phytoseiids on the selected plant genera revealed highly significant and significant values: a) positive: A. andersoni (III-b) – T. (A.) rhenanus (III-b) – Paraseiulus soleiger (I-c) on Malus spp.; Neoseiulus aceri (III-b) – Phytoseius echinus (III-a), Phytoseius macropilis (III-a) – Paraseiulus soleiger (I-c), Typhlodromus pyri (III-a) – Phytoseius corniger (III-a) on Prunus spp.; E. finlandicus (IV) – N. tiliarum (III-a) on Rubus spp.; and b) negative: E. finlandicus (IV) – K. aberrans (III-a) and E. finlandicus (IV) – P. macropilis (IIIa) on Prunus spp.; E. finlandicus (IV) – Phytoseius malshenkovae (III-a) on Rubus spp.