Witters, J., Casteels, H., Bondt, G. de, 2003.
Diagnostic acarological research at the Department of Crop Protection in 2002-2003. Parasitica, 59: 107-111.
Abstract
In 2002, the Entomology laboratory of the Department of Crop Protection at the Agricultural Research Centre in Merelbeke started with the discipline of acarology. Since the start, 303 samples of different origins were examined. We received 221 samples of plant material from growers, 21 samples of varied stored products, the remaining samples came from private persons. In 117 samples mites were found, using Berlese funnel and binocular techniques. In 36.7% of the infected samples mites were definitely the reason for the damage and in 14.7% mites were secondary, but in most cases the occurrence of mites was not relevant for the injury. Also, 6.8% beneficial mites were found in the infested samples. Besides the common spider mites, Eotetranychus fagi caused serious problems in hard stock nursery. This new mite for Belgium was first found in a hedge of Fagus sylvatica in 2002. In stored products we usually found Astigmata mites (e.g., Tyrophagus spp.). Most of the time these mites caused secondary problems. Also Mesostigmata mites were collected in stored products. Blattisocius tarsalis was determined in cocoa. Sixty-one samples coming from private persons were investigated, both from garden and domestic environments. The main problem indoors was caused by Dermanyssus gallinae. In gardens the same problems occur as in professional sites. Furthermore a few new records of phytophagous species can be reported. Schizotetranychus celarius was found in a private garden on bamboo Phyllostachys pubescens Bicolor. Pentamerismus taxi, a Tenuipalpidae mite, was determined on Taxus baccata. Two other Tenuipalpidae mites, Cenopalpus pulcher on Cotoneaster sp. and Cenopalpus lineola on Thuja sp., were found in 2003. Aceria ligustri and Aculus ligustri were noticed on Ligustrum hedges where they caused considerable damage.
