Prozercon yavuzi Urhan, 1998

Keçeci, Büşra, Urhan, Raşit & Karaca, Mehmet, 2021, Mites of the genus Prozercon (Acari: Zerconidae) in Dilek Peninsula-Büyük Menderes Delta National Park (Turkey), with description of a new species, Acarological Studies 3 (1), pp. 37-42 : 39-41

Prozercon yavuzi Urhan, 1998

Materials examined: Three females: soil and litter samples under oak tree ( Quercus sp. ), 37°39.598' N, 27°6.434' D, 814 m a.s.l., vicinity of radar surveillance area of “ Naval Forces Command ”, 10 December 2018 . Nine females: soil and litter samples under sage-leaved rock-rose ( Cistus salviifolius ), 37°44.784' N, 27°20.967' D, 200 m a.s.l., vicinity of Söke- Davutlar neighborhoods road, 14 May 2019 . One female: soil and litter samples under Turkish pine ( Pinus brutia ), 37°38.899' N, 27°15.744' D, 10 m a.s.l., Yuvacaköy neighborhood, 14 May 2019 . Four females and two males: soil and litter samples under olive tree ( Olea europaea ), 37°37.283' N, 27°11.763' D, 12 m a.s.l., vicinity of Tuzburgazı neighborhood, 14 May 2019 . One female: soil and litter samples under oleaster-leafed pear ( Pyrus elaeagrifolia ), 37°41.121' N, 27°17.595' D, 892 m a.s.l., Dilek Mountain , 31 August 2019 . One female: soil and litter samples under kermes oak ( Quercus coccifera ), 37°42.213' N, 27°17.990' D, 385 m a.s.l., vicinity of Kurşunlu Monastery , Davutlar neighborhood, 9 November 2019 . Six females: soil and litter samples under holly oak ( Quercus ilex ), 37°42.624' N, 27°18.512' D, 277 m a.s.l., vicinity of Kurşunlu Monastery , Davutlar neighborhood, 9 November 2019 . One female: moss samples, 37°41.798' N, 27°9.436' D, 21 m a.s.l., vicinity of Kavaklıburun Bay , 3 February 2020 .

Turkish distribution: Aydın, Balıkesir, Denizli, İstanbul, Muğla ( Karaca, 2015, 2021).

Known distribution: Turkey ( Urhan, 1998), Crete, Greece ( Ujvári, 2008, 2011).

Key to Prozercon species in the Dilek Peninsula-Büyük Menderes Delta National Park

1 All marginal setae on opisthonotum pilose or plumose. Seta S4 present …….…………………………………………………..… 2

1′ All marginal setae on opisthonotum (except seta S1) short, smooth and needle-like. Seta S4 absent …….……………………………………………… P. yavuzi Urhan, 1998

2 Marginal setae on opisthonotum with seven pairs (S1 + R1–R6), seta Z5 situated as parallel to posterior margin of opisthonotum …………………………….… P. didimensis sp. nov.

2′ Marginal setae on opisthonotum with seven pairs (S1 + R1–R7), seta Z5 situated as vertically to posterior margin of opisthonotum …………………..… P. umidicola Urhan, 2002

Altitude preferences of Prozercon species in the Dilek Peninsula-Büyük Menderes Delta National Park

All materials for the Prozercon species were collected from suitable forestland areas at the altitude from 0 to 1000 m a.s.l. All sampling areas were divided according to 50 meters elevation ranges. After identification processes in the laboratory, the altitudinal distribution results of the Prozercon species were marked in Table 3 .

According to Table 3 , P. didimensis sp. nov. occurs only at lower altitudes (50–100 m a.s.l.). In addition, P. umidicola was only found at 450–500 m a.s.l. zones. However, since P. yavuzi showed a wide range of occurrences from 100 to 850 m a.s.l., it has no clear preference in terms of altitudinal ranges, but can live in low to mid-land areas.

Habitat preferences of Prozercon species in the Dilek Peninsula-Büyük Menderes Delta National Park

Samplings for Prozercon species were carried out in 97 different localities and the following 23 habitat types, mostly tree species, were noted: broom ( Genista sp. ), carob ( Ceratonia siliqua ), fern ( Pteridium aquilinum ), hawthorn ( Crataegus sp. ), juniper ( Juniperus sp. ), mastic ( Pistacia sp. ), moss (unspecified), mullein ( Verbascum sp. ), myrtle ( Myrtus communis ), oak ( Quercus sp. ), oleaster-leafed pear ( Pyrus elaeagrifolia ), olive ( Olea europaea ), pine ( Pinus brutia and P. nigra ), raspberry ( Rubus sp. ), rockrose ( Cistus sp. ), shrub ( Daphne gnidioides ), strawberry tree ( Arbutus sp. ), sycamore ( Platanus orientalis ), tamarisk ( Tamarix sp. ), thorn ( Paliurus spinachristi ), thorny burnet ( Sarcopoterium spinosum ) and walnut ( Juglans regia ). Habitat preferences of Prozercon species were marked in Table 4 .

According to Table 4 , all Prozercon specimens were found only in five different habitats ( Olea europaea , Pistacia sp. , Pinus brutia , P. nigra and Quercus sp. ). In the remaining habitats, no specimens of Prozercon were found.