Diversity of phytophagous and predatory mites in farms at Cotorro municipality, Havana, Cuba

Abstract

In order to determine the diversity of phytophagous and predators mites in agroecosystems of the farms "El Caimito" and "Dos Rosas", Cotorro municipality, Havana, Cuba, periodic samplings were carried out from February 2018 to March 2019. In all the samplings, 100 simple leaves per plant were selected, which were reviewed under a stereoscopic microscope (Carl ZeissTM, StemiTM DV4 model). The collected adult mites were clarified and mounted on slides. For their identification, they were observed with a Carl ZeissTM microscope, model AxioSkope.A1 and the corresponding taxonomic keys were used. The relative abundance and frequency of each species were calculated, the species accumulation curve was made and the ecological indices were determined by type of ecosystem. As a result of the inventory, eleven families of mites were detected. The phytophagous mites were represented by three families (Tarsonemidae, Tetranychidae and Tenuipalpidae) and six morphospecies, five families of predatory mites (Bdellidae, Cunaxidae, Stigmaeidae, Eupodidae and Phytoseiidae) with 17 morphospecies and four families of mites with varied eating habits (Acaridae, Tarsonemidae, Tydeidae, and Oppidae). The no disturbed ecosystem, represented by plant species in natural habitats, was the most diverse. Agroecosystem management practices were shown to influence the relative abundance and frequency of species, impacting the diversity of ecosystems.