Diversidade de ácaros predadores com ênfase em phytoseiidae na vegetação do bioma caatinga de Alagoas, Brasil

Abstract

Mites are chelated arthropods that make up the second largest group after insects. They are diverse and specialized in eating habits such as phytophages, mycophages, detritivores and predators. Among them, predatory mites are important agents in the natural control of microarthropods and occur in different ecosystems. Currently, they are used in agricultural crops, especially the family Phytoseiidae, for the biological control of pests, such as phytophagous mites, thrips and whiteflies. Despite its importance as an agent of biotic regulation, the number of species that represent their richness and diversity is still unknown in some Brazilian biomes, such as the caatinga. In this way, objective the present work is know the fauna of predatory mites in vegetation of the caatinga biome of Alagoas. Collections were carried out from January to August 2019, in the municipality of Olho D'Água das Flores - AL, in a fragment of forest remaining in the caatinga biome, as well as in a forage palm cultivation area [Nopalea cochenillifera (L.) Salm-Dyck]. The five plant species of the natural vegetation selected were catingueira [Poincianella pyramidalis (Tul.) LP Queiroz], juazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro Martius), quince (Croton blanchetianus Baill), pear (Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart.) and braúna-do-sertão (Schinopsis brasiliensis Engl.). Mite extraction was performed with direct examination of the leaves, using a stereoscopic microscope. The collected mites were mounted on a microscope slide and identified using specialized dichotomous keys. A total of 1922 mites were found distributed in three orders, a sub-order and ten families, with six predatory families (Bdellidae, Camerobiidae, Cunaxidae, Iolinidae, Phytoseiidae and Tydeidae), with the identification of 16 genera and 14 species. Phytoseiidae was the family with the highest species richness (Amblyseius aerialis Muma 1955, Euseius alatus De Leon, 1966, Euseius concordis Chant 1959, Iphiseiodes zuluagai Denmark and Muma 1972, Typhlodromalus peregrinus Muma 1955, Transeius bellotti Moraes and Mesa 1998 and Neoparaphytoseius sp.n.), with T. bellotti and I. zuluagai being the most abundant and frequent species throughout the study period. Among the predators found, a new species of Neoparaphytoseius Chant and McMurtry 2003 was described, classified as Phytoseiidae. It is noteworthy that this is the first species described for the caatinga biome.