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Ácaros (Arthropoda: Acari) edáficos do estado de Alagoas, com ênfase nos mesostigmata

2013; Linguagem: Inglês

2639-6459

Jandir C. Santos,

Study of Mite Species

Mites are one of the most abundant arthropod groups of soil fauna; they can be pests, consumers of organic matter, fungal feeders or biological control agents. This study is part of a major project called Design and exploration of the diversity of biological control agents of agricultural pests and predatory approved by SISBIOTA CNPq / FAPESP Brazilian sponsoring agencies in 2011. This major project has been conducted in different parts of Brazil and refers to the study of mites collected in the State of Alagoas, Brazil. Quarterly samples of litter and soil were taken from three ecologically distinct regions of that state, on environments of minor human disturbance, along one year. The collections were done in the following areas: Mata Atlântica sugar mills Seresta, city of Teotonio Vilela; Agreste municipio de Arapiraca; Caatinga city of Olho D agua. Mites were extracted from the samples using modified funnel. The ones belonging to the Mesostigmata and Prostigmata groups were identified to genus level, and those belonging to the most abundant families of those groups were identified to species level. This work intends to contribute to the knowledge of the fauna of edaphic mites of those three regions, allowing the determination of the most common species to be studied in greater detail in the future, aiming at their use as biological control agents, or the study their ecology. Were identified 30 genera and 57 morphospecies of Mesostigmata, being Neogamasellevans Loots and Ryke (Ologamasidae), Cosmolaelaps Berlese (Laelapidae) and Multidentorhodacarus Karg (Rhodacaridae) the most frequent and abundant genera. From the Prostigmata, 21 genera and 52 morphospecies were identified, the most frequent and abundant being Lorryia Oudemans (Tydeidae), Stigmocheylus (Pseudochelidae) and Dactyloscirus (Cunaxidae). Key-words: Soil mites, diversity, taxonomy of mites