Species composition of spider mites and predatory mites (Acari: Tetranychidae, Phytoseiidae) on Rubus spp. in Serbia

Abstract: This study presents data on spider mites (Tetranychidae) and predatory mites (Phytoseiidae) hosted by cultivated red raspberry and wild blackberry species (Rubus spp.), which were collected in various growing regions in Serbia over the period 1983-2016. Seven Rubus species were found to host ten spider mite species: Amphitetranychus viennensis, Bryobia rubrioculus, Eotetranychus deflexus, E. perplexus, E. rubiphilus, E. uncatus, Neotetranychus rubi, Schizotetranychus parasemus, Tetranychus turkestani and T. urticae. Twenty one phytoseiid species were also found: Amblyseius andersoni, A. bryophilus, A. fraterculus, Euseius finlandicus, Graminaseius graminis, Neoseiulella tilliarum, Neoseiulus umbraticus, Paraseiulus soleiger, P. talbii, Phytoseius canadensis, P. corniger, P. echinus, P. juvenis, P. macropilis, P. maltshenkovae, P. ribagai, Proprioseiopsis okanagensis, Transeius wainsteini, Typhlodromus bakeri, T. pyri and T. rhenanus. An analysis of the Tetranychidae/Phytoseiidae complex on the Rubus species in Serbia revealed a predominance of a combination of four tetranychid species (T. urticae, N. rubi, E. rubiphilus and T. turkestani) and five phytoseiid species (T. rhenanus, E. finlandicus, P. juvenis, N.umbraticus and A. andersoni). A positive and significant association for E. finlandicus-N. tilliarum, a negative and significant association for N. rubi-P. juvenis, and a negative and very significant association for E. finlandicus-P. maltshenkovae were found.