This study was conducted to determine mite species in dried figs in Aydin, Turkey between August 2014 and November 2016. A total of 141 dried fig samples were taken from producers’ storage, commercial storages and fig processing factories in Buharkent, Germencik, Incirliova, Kocarli, Kosk, Kuyucak, Merkez, Nazilli, Sultanhisar and Yenipazar districts. In addition, 24 dried fig samples were kept in storage for 8 months and the changes in mite species composition and their densities in stored figs were determined. As a result, 8 mite species belonging to 3 orders and 5 families were identified from the dried figs. Acarus siro L., Carpoglyphus lactis (L.), Glycyphagus destructor (Schrank), G. domesticus (De Geer) and Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) as pest species, and Blattisocius tarsalis (Berlese), B. mali (Oudemans) and Cheyletus eruditus (Schrank) as predatory mite species were found. Out of 141 samples, 133 were infested with mites and the infestation ratio was 94.3%. Tyrophagus putrescentiae was the most common pest species with an infestation rate of 72.3%, followed by C. lactis with 34.8%, A. siro, G. destructor and G. domesticus with 0.7% contamination, respectively. Carpoglyphus lactis was found to have the highest density with 10,488 individuals/kg in contaminated fig samples. Blattisocius tarsalis was the most common predatory mite species with an infestation rate of 77.3%. Blattisocius mali and C. eruditus were found in 9.2% and 4.3% of dried figs, respectively. This study showed that the dried fig samples kept in storage were always vulnerable to contamination with mites. Mite species composition and their densities also fluctuated over time.
Arthropod Infestation in Samples of Stored Seeds in the Czech Republic