International Journal of Acarology· 2026Q2
Mite fauna in blackberry, lemon, apple and blueberry orchards in northern Portugal: composition and diversity based on a point sample
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- Q2SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Blackberry orchards in northern Portugal host the richest and most balanced mite communities (19 species identified, 21 estimated), with dominant predatory Typhlodromus pyri and phytophagous Polyphagotarsonemus latus, unlike blueberry orchards which show very low abundance and diversity (2 species).
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Key points
- Blackberry orchards in northern Portugal had the highest mite species richness (19 identified, 21 estimated) and community evenness.
- Typhlodromus pyri (predator) and Polyphagotarsonemus latus (phytophagous) were dominant in blackberry orchards.
- Lemon orchards were the most abundant for mites (50.7% of 1,468 total), dominated by Tydeus californicus and Brachytydeus formosus.
- Blueberry orchards showed very low mite abundance and richness, with only two species identified.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Mite fauna play an important role in ecological balance and biological pest regulation in fruit orchards. This study characterized mite communities associated with blackberry (Rubus fruticosus), lemon (Citrus limon), apple (Malus domestica), and blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) in northern Portugal. Sampling was conducted in June 2023 in three orchards per crop. In each orchard, 20 plants were randomly selected and three leaves per plant were collected, totalling 60 leaves per crop. Mites were manually extracted, mounted in Hoyer’s medium, and identified using taxonomic keys. A total of 1,468 mites were collected, with 50.7% from lemon, 37.3% from blackberry, 11.6% from apple, and 0.4% from blueberry. Blackberry showed the highest observed richness (19 species) and a balanced community of predatory and phytophagous mites, with Typhlodromus pyri and Polyphagotarsonemus latus as the dominant predator and phytophagous species, respectively. Tydeus californicus and Brachytydeus formosus predominated in lemon, whereas Amblyseius andersoni was dominant in apple. Blueberry showed very low abundance and richness (two species). Rarefaction, extrapolation, and Hill diversity analyses indicated that blackberry had the highest estimated richness (21 species) and greater evenness, while blueberry represented the most simplified community.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. International Journal of Acarology, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and SystematicsAgricultural and Biological Sciences