L’acarofauna utile (Parasitiformes,Phytoseiidae) associata alle specieforestali del sito Natura 2000“Bosco di S. Adriano”

Within the acarofauna present in ecosystems, the Phytoseiidae family has a relevant role as it includesspecies considered as the most important biocontrol agents of phytophagous mites. Their specific compositionin various habitats is influenced by numerous factors both biotics and abiotics, while thenumber of species increases if the complexity of the ecosystem increases. In order to know the specificcomposition of phytoseiid mites in two natural habitats and to check possible changes in a near future,a survey of phytoseiid mites was carried out in a Natura 2000 location S. Adriano woods (Sicily). Thisresearch was done within the project ManagMED “Integrated development and management of Natura2000 protected areas through innovative techniques in East Mediterranean “ of the INTERREG III BARCHIMED program.19 plant species were sampled, on which 22 phytoseiid species were found, in S. Adrianos’ woods. Thefollowing species were the most abundant: Kampimodromus aberrans (Oudemans), Kampimodromuslangei Wainstein & Arutunjan and Typhlodromus cryptus Athias-Henriot,, while the remaining were collectedon few plants and sporadically: among them, Typhlodromus pentelicus Papadoulis & Emmanouele Typhlodromus kykladiticus Papadoulis & Emmanouel, collected up to now only in Southern Greece,were found in Italy for the first time.