Seasonal occurrence and prevalence of the invasive spider mite Eutetranychus orientalis (Klein, 1936) and the citrus red mite Panonychus citri (McGregor, 1916) (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae) in citrus-growing and recreational areas of Adana (Türkiye)

In this study, surveys were conducted every two or three weeks to evaluate the prevalence of the invasive spider mite Eutetranychus orientalis (Klein, 1936) (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae) and the citrus red mite Panonychus citri (McGregor, 1916) (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae), as well as their population developments in citrus and sour orange (Citrus aurantium L.) growing in recreational (non agricultural - residential) areas in Adana between 2019 and 2022. The host preference of E. orientalis varied among citrus species, with the pest predominantly found on lemons (C. limon (L.) Burm. f.) (62%), followed by oranges (C. sinensis (L.) Osbeck) (26%) and mandarins (C. reticulata Blanco) (12%), but no infestations were recorded on grapefruits (C. paradisi Macf.). Similarly, P. citri was most commonly observed on lemons (58%), followed by mandarins (19%), oranges (17%), and grapefruits (6%). The highest E. orientalis population densities were observed in December, while the pest was either absent or at low densities during the summer. Regardless of citrus species, P. citri did not establish noticeable populations in any of the orchards where E. orientalis was detected. On sour orange, E. orientalis showed a similar seasonal abundance to those observed in other citrus species, whereas P. citri was unable to establish a population. Likewise, the majority of E. orientalis preferred to feed and colonize on the adaxial side of the leaf in all citrus species. Predatory mite populations remained at low densities across all sampling sites and did not exhibit a consistent population pattern. Regarding the population developments of E. orientalis, the most frequent Phytoseiidae species were Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot, 1962, Euseius scutalis (Athias-Henriot, 1958) and Typhlodromus athiasae Porath & Swirski, 1965 (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae).