Abstract Broad Leaf Trees as Reservoirs for Phytoseiid Mites.pdf

65 Plant Protect. Sci. Vol. 39, No. 2: 65–69 Phytoseiid mites are one of the many groups of small arthropods that in all parts of the world often live on the foliage and bark of many plants, in humus and other organic litter (E????? E???? 1998). The majority of phytoseiid species are known as predators of juvenile stages and adults of vari- ous other arthropods, particularly tetranychid and eriophyid mites. If living prey is scarce, many phy- toseiids use alternative food sources (O??????? 1985; M?M????? C???? 1997). Some species of phytoseiid mites are used in pro- grammes of biological control of acarine and insect pests in agricultural systems (W????? O’D??? 1992; C???? B????? 1971; M?M????? ??? ?? V??? 1973; H????? 1988; H?? G???????? 1991). In natural habitats, some phytoseiids are important in preventing outbreaks of phytophagous mites (E????? E???? 1998). Many deciduous trees and bushes may serve as reservoirs for phytoseiid mites from where they can migrate into nearby orchards, vineyards or other coenosis (T??????? R??? 1991; T??????? 1994; S????? C???? 1993). Dispersal of predaceous mites is important to the persistence of many acarine predator-prey systems (H??????? et al. 1963; N?????? 1988). The presence of tall trees offers a good opportunity for rapid phytoseiid aerial migration into orchards (T??????? 1994). Some trees and bushes may be important phytoseiid sources in vineyards and apple orchards (B????? et al. 1988; T??????? 1994). Little is known about the occurrence of phytoseiid mites on broad leaf trees in the Czech Republic. Some deciduous tree and bush species are com- mon in urban forest and parks and they often are also an important component of the vegetation close to apple orchards and vineyards. The main aim of this preliminary study was to investigate the occurrence and species diversity of phyt