Distribution and abundance of Tuckerella japonica (Acari: Tuckerellidae) in tea gardens in Türkiye

Tea gardens in the Eastern Black Sea provinces of Artvin, Giresun, Ordu, Rize, and Trabzon represent Türkiye’s main tea cultivation areas. Between 2021 and 2023, surveys were conducted in 205 gardens across 32 districts to assess the presence, distribution, and abundance of Tuckerella japonica Ehara (Acari: Tuckerellidae) in this region. From each garden, 45 shoots, 60 leaves, 25 flowers (if present), and 25 fruits (if present) were sampled from three plant levels: lower, middle, and upper, from lateral shoots. The eggs and active stages (larvae, nymphs, and adults) of T. japonica present on the samples were counted and recorded separately. During the study, a total of 8,065 mites from different biological stages were collected from tea gardens in Türkiye. Of these, 6,026 were active stages (larvae, nymphs, and adults), while 2,039 were eggs. The average density of T. japonica in infested gardens was 0.13 active stages/cm of stem, 0.003 active stages/leaf, 0.27 active stages/fruit, and 0.05 eggs/cm of stem. Tuckerella japonica was detected in all sampled provinces except Ordu. This is the first study on the distribution and abundance of T. japonica in tea gardens in Türkiye. The cryptic habits and small size of this mite suggest that its presence may be underestimated. Our study highlights key findings for accurately detecting its presence and abundance.