Tetranychus turkestani (Ugarov and Nikolski, 1937)

Zriki, G., Shaabo, A. & Boubou, A., 2015, A preliminary survey of the spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) in Latakia governorate of Syria, Acarologia 55 (3), pp. 303-309 : 306

Tetranychus turkestani (Ugarov and Nikolski, 1937)

The color of the summer adult female of that species is variable but is often yellow-green. A large spot is always present on each side, beginning just behind the eye spots and extending beyond the middle of the body, with an occasional additional pair of posterior spots, one on each side toward the end of the hysterosoma ( Jeppson et al. 1975; Seeman and Beard 2011). Tetranychus turkestani and T. urticae are very similar and without microscopic examination of the male aedeagus it is impossible to separate between them ( Migeon 2005). In our collection, this species was found together with T. urticae on some sample ( Trifolium sp , Tribulus terrestis and Ailanthus altissima ). It is a serious pest of many crops throughout the world, mainly low-growing crops and has been recorded from 270 host plants over the world (Jeppson e t al. 1975; Migeon and Dorkeld 2006 - 2013).

Specimens examined — 10 ♀♀ and 10 ♂♂ on Solanum melongena (Solanaceae), Shalfatea (35°32’5.84"N, 35°53’56.15"E), 28-IX-2011 ; 10 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on Malva sp. (Malvaceae), Latakia city (35°32’28.42"N, 35°46’37.17"E) 7-X-2011 ; 10 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on Malva sp. (Malvaceae), Latakia city (35°30’54.21"N, 35°46’17.91"E) 8-X-2011 ; 10 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on Malva sp. , Latakia city (35°32’30.63"N, 35°47’57.30"E) 12-XI-2011 ; 10 ♀♀ and 5 ♂♂ on T. terrestris (Zygophyllaceae), Latakia city (35°30’54.21"N, 35°46’17.91"E) 8-X-2011 ; 10 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on A. altissima (Simaroubaceae), Latakia city (35°30’54.21"N, 35°46’17.91"E), 8-X-2011 ; 8 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on Fraxinus sp. (Oleaceae), Latakia city (35°31’30.09"N, 35°47’34.90"E), 13-X-2011 ; 8 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on Dianthus sp. (Caryophyllaceae), Al Hannadi (35°29’19.02"N, 35°51’41.14"E), 21-IV- 2012 ; 8 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on Trifolium sp. ( Leguminosae ) Latakia city (35°31’36.05"N, 35°48’21.44"E), 23-IV-2012 ; 8 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on Melia azedarach (Meliaceae), Latakia city (35°31’26.01"N, 35°47’51.22"E), 24-IV-2012 ; 8 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on M. azedarach , Latakia city (35°31’37.02"N, 35°47’24.87"E), 15-VI- 2012 ; 8 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on Mentha sp. (Lamiaceae), Fedeo (35°31’1.80"N, 35°53’24.44"E), 30-V-2012 ; 8 ♀♀ and 4 ♂♂ on Rosa sp. (Rosaceae), Latakia city (35°31’41.36"N, 35°47’36.90"E), 1-VI-2012 ; 8 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on Juglans regia (Juglandaceae), Beshraghi (35°17’52.47"N, 36°5’54.75"E), 21-VII-2012 ; 10 ♀♀ and 10 ♂♂ on M. domestica (Rosaceae), Beshraghi (35°37’49.03"N, 36° 8’13.32"E), 21-VII-2012 ; 10 ♀♀ and 4 ♂♂ on Phaseolus vulgaris (Leguminosae) , Al Brazeen (35°15’14.04"N, 36° 1’23.12"E), 22-VII-2012 .

Remarks — Tetranychus turkestani is a worldwide distributed species and was reported before this study from many countries in the Middle East.