# Mite fauna on Dittrichia species (Asteraceae) in Syrian costal region: new records and primary observations on the behavior of Typhloseiella isotricha (Athias-Henriot) (Meostigmata: Phytoseiidae)

Walaa Ebrahim, Ziad Barbar

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Walaa Ebrahim, Ziad Barbar. Mite fauna on Dittrichia species (Asteraceae) in Syrian costal region: new records and primary observations on the behavior of Typhloseiella isotricha (Athias-Henriot) (Meostigmata: Phytoseiidae). Acarologia, 2023, 63 (2), pp.529-538. 10.24349/ma1r-1i1n. hal-04096407

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# Mite fauna on *Dittrichia* species (Asteraceae) in Syrian costal region: new records and primary observations on the behavior of *Typhloseiella isotricha* (Athias-Henriot) (Meostigmata: Phytoseiidae)

Walaa Ebrahim IDª, Ziad Barbar IDª

## Original research

### ABSTRACT

Surveys of mite fauna on *Dittrichia viscosa* and *D. graveolens* (Asteraceae) were conducted at multiple locations in Tartous and Latakia governorates, Syria, in 2021 and 2022. A total of 13 mite species belonging to seven families (Acaridae, Camerobiidae, Erythraeidae, Phytoseiidae, Raphignathidae, Tenuipalpidae, and Tetranychidae) were collected. Among them, *Erythraeus (Zaracarus) passidonicus* (Erythraeidae), *Raphignathus collegiatus* (Raphignathidae), and *Brevipalpus rotai* (Tenuipalpidae) are recorded for the first time in Syria. The most abundant family observed on *Dittrichia* species was Phytoseiidae with four species representing about 86% of total collected mite specimens. Among them, *Typhloseiella isotricha* was the dominant species. It was mainly observed on big leaves of *D. viscosa*, highly infected by the rust spots of *Coleosporium inulae*. Results suggest that rust spores could be a potential food for this predator.

**Keywords** survey; *Typhloseiella isotricha*; *Coleosporium inulae*; aggregation; abundance; Syria

### Introduction

Predatory mites of the family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) are of great importance for integrated pest management in various agroecosystems. Some Phytoseiidae species are widely used as biological agents for controlling phytophagous mites and other pests (Chant and McMurtry 2007; McMurtry et al. 2013). Researches about this family were progressively advanced in Syria during the last years. In total, thirty-one species of these predators were recorded until now, particularly in Latakia governorate (Barbar and Negm, 2022). These predators were almost collected from citrus orchards, vegetables crops, and from about forty plant species of natural vegetation surrounding agro-ecosystems (e.g. Barbar, 2013, 2014, 2016; Barbar et al. 2022). Of these natural vegetation, *Dittrichia viscosa* (L.) Greuter (Asteraceae) seems to be one of the most abundant species in the coastal region of Syria, and *D. graveolens* (L.) Greuter is another species accompanied the former in few localities. The two *Dittrichia* species are common in the Mediterranean region (Gökbulut et al. 2013; Parolin et al. 2014) and the former has been investigated against insects and phytophagous mites, and as the host plant of efficient generalist predators (Topakci et al. 2005; Alexenizer and Dorn, 2007; Ingegno et al. 2011). However, the number of predatory mite species (in particular those of the family Phytoseiidae) collected from these plant species were very low worldwide. In fact,

Received 05 January 2023

Accepted 24 April 2023

Published 04 May 2023

Corresponding author

Ziad Barbar ID:

ziadbarbar88@gmail.com

Academic editor

Tsolakis, Haralabos

https://doi.org/10.24349/ma1r-1i1n

ISSN 0044-586X (print)

ISSN 2107-7207 (electronic)

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Ebrahim W. and Barbar Z.

Licensed under

Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0

<footnote>ªDepartment of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Baath University, P.O. Box 77, Al-Sham St., Homs, Syria.</footnote>
only *Amblyseiella setosa* Muma and *Typhloseiella isotricha* (Athias-Henriot) were observed on *D. graveolens* and *D. viscosa*, respectively (Demite *et al.* 2022). In Syria, *T. isotricha* is the unique species collected from *D. viscosa* (Barbar, 2016). Although this predator was observed in 13 countries of the Mediterranean region (Demite *et al.* 2022), nothing is known about its ecology or associated prey.

The objectives of the present work were to determine phytophagous and predatory mites on *D. viscosa* and *D. graveolens* plants in the coastal region of Syria (Tartous and Latakia governorates), and to identify, the eventual source of feeding of most abundant predator for future evaluations of predation capacity and feeding habits.

# Material and methods

## Sampling and identification of mites

Surveys of mite fauna present on *D. viscosa* and on *D. graveolens* were conducted in Tatrus and Latakia governorates in June, August and September 2021, and in June, July and August 2022. About 150 leaves of *Dittrichia* species were collected in each locality. Sampling dates, geographic coordinates and altitude above sea level (a.a.s.l. in meter) for each sampling location are presented in table 1.

The mites were collected from leaves of *Dittrichia* species using the “dipping-checking-washing-filtering” method (Boller, 1984), and then mounted on slides in Hoyer’s medium and dried at 45-50 °C for a week.

Mite taxa were identified to family levels using the key of Krantz and Walter (2009). Identification to infra-family level was carried out mainly using the following works: (1) for Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae (Chant and McMurtry, 2007); (2) for Sarcoptiformes: Acaridae (Smiley 1991; Zhang 2003); (3) for Trombidiformes: Camerobiidae (Du Toit *et al.* 1998; Khanjani and Ueckermann, 2002) Erythraeidae (Southcott, 1961; Xu *et al.* 2019); Raphignathidae (Khanjani and Ueckermann, 2003; Fan and Zhang, 2005; Nasrollahi *et al.* 2018), Tenuipalpidae (Meyer 1979; Mesa *et al.* 2009), and Tetranychidae (Bolland *et al.* 1998). The specimens were deposited in the Arthropod Collection of the Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Baath University, Homs, Syria.

## Phytoseiids on leaves infected by the rust fungus Coleosporium inulae

In the above surveys, relatively high number of phytoseiid specimens was observed in some collected samples of *D. viscosa* leaves infected by the rust fungus *Coleosporium inulae* Rabenhorst. To verify the effect of the presence of this fungus on phytoseiid mite abundances, a sample of 160 *D. viscosa* leaves were collected, divided them into four groups (40 leaves in each group): 1. small leaves (dimensions ranged from 1.8-6.0 long X 0.4-1.3 cm wide) without rust spots, 2. small leaves with rust spots, 3. big leaves (dimensions ranged from 6.4-10.3 long X 1.8-3.4 cm wide) without rust spots, and 4. big leaves with rust spots. The number of phytoseiid mites and rust spots were then counted on each leaf in each group using a binocular microscope. As no mite specimens were observed on small leaves without rust spots, this group of leaves was excluded from statistical analysis. As data were not normally distributed, a Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric analysis of variance followed by multiple comparisons between ranks (IBM® SPSS® version 20, 2011) were carried out to compare phytoseiids abundance between the three remaining groups of leaves. Generalized linear models initially showed that the mites on the three groups of *D. viscosa* leaves mentioned above followed a negative binomial distribution. Therefore, two aggregation indexes were studied. The first index was the variance/mean ratio (*I*), (*I* = s²/m), in which *I* = 1 indicates a random spatial distribution; *I* < 1, uniform distribution and *I* > 1, aggregate distribution. The second index was the *k* exponent of the negative binomial distribution (*k* = m²/S²-*m*), in which negative value of *k* indicates a uniform distribution, low and positive value (0 < *k* < 2) suggests a highly aggregate distribution,
value between two and eight refers to a moderate aggregation, and value higher than eight is related with random distribution (Fernandes *et al.* 2019). To describe quantitatively the eventual effects of the presence of *C. inulae* rust spots on patterns of phytoseiids distribution, the data (numbers of mites and rust spots) were used to estimate the coefficient of negative bionomial distribution (B) and its exponent [Exp (B)].

<table><caption>**Table 1** Sampling locations of *Dittrichia* species in the coastal region of Syria in 2021-2022</caption><thead><tr><th colspan="5">Tartous governorate</th></tr><tr><th>Location</th><th>Date of sampling</th><th>Geographic coordinates</th><th>aasl (m)</th><th>Dittrichia species</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Alsheikh-Badr bridge</td><td>17-VII-2021</td><td>35°01'32"N 35°54'18"E</td><td>16</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Al-Einnazeh bridge</td><td>17-VII-2021</td><td>35°13'12"N 35°58'58"E</td><td>66</td><td>D. graveolens</td></tr><tr><td>Banias Refinery</td><td>17-VII-2021</td><td>35°12'59"N 35°57'29"E</td><td>19</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Al-Matin</td><td>17-VII-2021</td><td>35°00'06"N 35°53'53"E</td><td>9</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Markyah bridge</td><td>17-VII-2021</td><td>35°01'27"N 35°54'20"E</td><td>16</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Almarkeb Citadel</td><td>17-VII-2021</td><td>35°09'02"N 35°56'57"E</td><td>338</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Borj Al-sabi</td><td>17-VII-2021</td><td>35°09'15"N 35°55'47"E</td><td>80</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Tartous city Entrance</td><td>17-VII-2021</td><td>34°52'46"N 35°54'44"E</td><td>12</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Masken al-esmant</td><td>17-VII-2021</td><td>34°58'10"N 35°53'10"E</td><td>20</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Blata Gharbiyyeh</td><td>17-VII-2021</td><td>34°56'47"N 35°53'12"E</td><td>9</td><td>D. viscosa + D. graveolens</td></tr><tr><td>Al-Tali'y-Safita</td><td>08-VII-2021</td><td>34°44'04"N 36°06'26"E</td><td>182</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Serges</td><td>15-VIII-2021</td><td>35°05'07"N 36°00'46"E</td><td>319</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Kherbet Almaazeh</td><td>15-VIII-2021</td><td>34°47'58"N 36°00'25"E</td><td>147</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Beit Nour-Elddin</td><td>1-IX-2021 and 06-VI-2022</td><td>34°48'46"N 36°00'49"E</td><td>190</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Miaar Shaker</td><td>06-VI-2022</td><td>34°47'23"N 35°59'25"E</td><td>86</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Bowidat Massllam</td><td>08-VI-2022</td><td>34°56'23"N 36°10'52"E</td><td>534</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Al-Jammaseh</td><td>09-VI-2022</td><td>34°43'09"N 35°58'54"E</td><td>36</td><td>D. graveolens</td></tr><tr><td>Amrit</td><td>12-VI-2022</td><td>34°50'52"N 35°54'15"E</td><td>16</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Hosn Souliman</td><td>13-VI-2022</td><td>34°55'45"N 36°14'28"E</td><td>786</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Beit Kamooneh</td><td>16-VI-2022</td><td>34°52'18"N 35°55'40"E</td><td>51</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Kornish Albaher-Tartous</td><td>16-VI-2022</td><td>34°52'17"N 35°53'02"E</td><td>3</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Beit Kammoneh</td><td>16-VI-2022</td><td>34°52'18"N 35°55'40"E</td><td>49</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Al-Mastabeh</td><td>20-VI-2022</td><td>34°53'39"N 36°01'01"E</td><td>306</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Albarkiyyaeh</td><td>24-VI-2022</td><td>34°49'48"N 36°13'39"E</td><td>399</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Safita Alshakiyyeh</td><td>25-VI-2022</td><td>34°50'16"N 36°07'26"E</td><td>230</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Sendyaneh-Obin</td><td>25-VI-2022</td><td>34°51'22"N 36°09'46"E</td><td>478</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Almderjat</td><td>25-VI-2022</td><td>34°47'54"N 36°04'08"E</td><td>203</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Al-Kafroun</td><td>25-VI-2022</td><td>34°51'54"N 36°14'20"E</td><td>433</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Zook Brakat</td><td>25-VI-2022</td><td>34°49'32"N 36°09'52"E</td><td>217</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Marmarita</td><td>27-VI-2022 and 24-VIII-2022</td><td>34°46'46"N 36°15'39"E</td><td>562</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Dwier-Almaloa</td><td>28-VI-2022</td><td>34°50'56"N 36°13'28"E</td><td>471</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Mashta-Alholo</td><td>28-VI-2022</td><td>34°52'37"N 36°15'12"E</td><td>500</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Deir Hbash</td><td>05-VII-2022</td><td>34°47'58"N 36°00'28"E</td><td>147</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr></tbody></table><table><thead><tr><th colspan="5">Latakia governorate</th></tr><tr><th>Location</th><th>Date of sampling</th><th>Geographic coordinates</th><th>aasl (m)</th><th>Dittrichia species</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Jableh bridge</td><td>17-VII-2021</td><td>35°21'25"N 35°56'37"E</td><td>27</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Al-Kerdaha bridge</td><td>17-VII-2021</td><td>35°26'14"N 35°54'54"E</td><td>31</td><td>D. graveolens</td></tr><tr><td>Al-bassa Bridge</td><td>17-VII-2021</td><td>35°29'56"N 35°50'48"E</td><td>28</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Attabiyyat</td><td>21-VI-2022 and 27-VII-2022</td><td>35°50'71"N 35°78'38"E</td><td>5</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr><tr><td>Alktalbiyeh</td><td>26-VIII-2022</td><td>35°17'19"N 36°00'57"E</td><td>160</td><td>D. viscosa</td></tr></tbody></table>
# Results and discussion

## New mite records

Mites were found in 31 of 38 sampled localities. A total of 13 mite species belonging to seven families (Acaridae, Camerobiidae, Erythraeidae, Phytoseiidae, Raphignathidae, Tenuipalpidae, and Tetranychidae) are reported on *Dittrichia* species in the present study (Table 2). Of these, three identified species are recorded for the first time from Syria and belong to Raphignathidae (one species), Erythraeidae (one species) and Tenuipalpidae (one species). These new records are presented thereafter.

*Erythraeus (Zaracarus) passidonicus* Haitlinger, family Erythraeidae: two larvae were collected from *D. viscosa*, Al-Matin, Tartous governorate, 17.7.2021. This species was

<table><caption>**Table 2** Number of specimens of mite species found on *Dittrichia viscosa* and *D. graveolens* in Tartous and Latakia governorates (Syria) in 2021 and 2022.</caption><thead><tr><th>Locations and mite species</th><th>Phytoseiulus persimilis</th><th>Typhlodromus rhenanus</th><th>Typhlodromus athiasea</th><th>Typhloseiella isotricha</th><th>Tyrophagus putrescentiae</th><th>Neophyllobius sp.</th><th>Erythraeus adanaensis</th><th>Erythraeus passidonicus</th><th>Raphignathus collegiatus</th><th>Raphignathus gracilis</th><th>Brevipalpus obovatus</th><th>Brevipalpus rotai</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Al-Einnazeh bridge</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>2g,v</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>2g</td></tr><tr><td>Banias Refinery</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>2v</td></tr><tr><td>Al-Matin</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>2v</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Markyah bridge</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>2v</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Masken al-esmant</td><td></td><td>2v</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Al-Tali'y-Safita</td><td></td><td>3v</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Kherbet Almaazeh</td><td>1v</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Beit Nour-Elddin</td><td></td><td>4v</td><td></td><td>6v</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Miaar Shaker</td><td></td><td>2v</td><td></td><td></td><td>1v</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Bowidat Massllam</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1v</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Al-Jammaseh</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>3g</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Amrit</td><td></td><td>3v</td><td></td><td>5v</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Hosn Souliman</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1v</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1v</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Beit Kamooneh</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>25v</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Kornish Albaher-Tartous</td><td></td><td>3v</td><td></td><td>5v</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Al-Mastabeh</td><td></td><td>2v</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Albarkiyyaeh</td><td></td><td>2v</td><td></td><td>6v</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Safita Alshakiyyeh</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>6v</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Sendyaneh-Obin</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>4v</td><td>1g</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Almderjat</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>3v</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Al-Kafroun</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>3v</td><td>2v</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Zook Brakat</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1v</td></tr><tr><td>Marmarita</td><td></td><td>2v</td><td></td><td>2v</td><td>1v</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1v</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Dwier-Almaloa</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>5v</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Mashta-Alholo</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>2v</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Deir Hbash</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>3v</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Jableh bridge</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1v</td></tr><tr><td>Al-Kerdaha bridge</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>2g</td></tr><tr><td>Al-bassa Bridge</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1v</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1v</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Attabiyyat</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>50v</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1v</td></tr><tr><td>Alktalbiyeh</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>1v</td><td>15v</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>2v</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

<footnote>(*) number of specimens followed by the letter "v" and /or the letter "g" indicates that the specimens were collected from *D. viscosa* and/or *D. graveolens* respectively.</footnote>
<figure><img src="image_8.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 1** Relative abundance of mite species on *Dittrichia* leaves in Tartous and Latakia governorates (Syria) in 2021 and 2022</figcaption></figure>

described from a unique larva in Greece and was re-described from three larvae in Turkey (Haitlinger, 2006, 2010).

*Raphignathus collegiatus* Atyeo, Baker and Crossley, family Raphignathidae: one female and two males were collected from *D. viscosa*, Almderjat, Tartous governorate, 25.6.2022. This species is known from China, Egypt, former USSR, USA and Turkey (Doğan and Ayyildiz, 2003).

*Brevipalpus rotai* (Castagnoli & Pegazzano), family Tenuipalpidae: one female was collected from *D. viscosa*, Hosn Souliman, Tartous governorate, 13.6.2022. This species is known from Greece, Italy and Turkey on *Olea europaea* L. (Castro *et al.* 2022). This is the first report of this species on *D. viscosa* although the absence of olive orchards near plants from which the samples were taken.

## Domination of Phytoseiidae on *Dittrichia* species

The most abundant family observed on *Dittrichia* species was Phytoseiidae with four species representing about 86% of total collected mite specimens. *Typhloseiella isotricha* (Athias-Henriot) was the dominant species with about 73% and 85% of total collected mite specimens and total collected phytoseiids, respectively (Figure 1). This species was collected from *D. viscosa* in 16 locations and from *D. graveolens* in one location (Table 2). It was found in association with the phytophagous mite, *B. obovatus*, *B. rotai* and *Tetranychus* sp. It has been already reported on *D. viscosa* in Latakia governorate, Syria (Barbar, 2016) and was exclusively found on *D. viscosa* worldwide (Demite *et al.* 2022).

*Typhlodromus* (*Anthoseius* rhenanus (Oudemans) was relatively abundant. All specimens of this species were collected from *D. viscosa* in nine locations in Tartous governorate (Table 2). These specimens represent 11% and 15% of total collected mite specimens and total collected phytoseiids, respectively (Figure 1). This is the first record of this predator on *D. viscosa* in the world (Demite *et al.* 2022). It was found in association with the phytophagous mite *B. obovatus* in the present study and it has been already reported on various herbaceous, shrub and arboreal plants in Syria (Barbar and Negm, 2022). Other phytoseiid species were sporadic and its presence on *Dittrichia* seems to be accidental.
<figure><img src="image_9.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 2** *Typhloseiella isotricha* specimens close to rust spots of *C. inulae* infested leaves of *D. viscosa* (scale bar = 1mm)</figcaption></figure>

## Other mites on *Dittrichia* species

Excluding the mite species mentioned above, three predaceous and three phytophagous mite species were also recorded on *Dittrichia* in the present study. For the first group, only one female of the predatory mite *Neophyllobius* sp. (Camerobiidae) was collected from *D. graveolens* in Tartous governorate. As some leg segments were missed in the collected specimen and the failed tentative to re-collect additional ones, it was impossible to identify this specimen to species level. A unique species of this predatory mite family is known from Syria: *Neophyllobius persiaensis* Khanjani & Ueckermann, collected from *Citrus limon* (L.) Osbeck and from soil litter in Latakia governorate (Barbar, 2016). The second species was *Erythraeus* (*Erythraeus*) adanaensis (Saboori & Çobanoğlu) (Erythraeidae). Two larvae were observed on *D. graveolens* and *D. viscosa* (Table 2). It has been already collected from leaves of eggplant *Solanum melongena* L. in Latakia governorate (Barbar, 2018). The third species, *Raphignathus gracilis* (Rack) (Raphignathidae) was collected only on *D. viscosa* (Table 2). This predator was reported also from *C. limon* and from ground litter in Latakia governorate (Barbar, 2016).

Concerning phytophagous mite species, seven specimens of the mould mite *Tyrophagus putrescentiae* (Schrank) (Acaridae) were collected from *D. viscosa* in five locations (Table 2). It has already been observed on some plant species, and was collected from ground litter in Latakia governorate (Barbar, 2016). The second species was *B. obovatus* (Tenuipalpidae)
<figure><img src="image_10.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 3** Mean abundance (± SE) of *T. isotricha* on different groups of *D. viscosa* leaves (small leaves = 1.8-6.0 X 0.4-1.3 cm; big leaves = 6.4-10.3 X 1.8-3.4 cm).</figcaption></figure>

found only on *D. viscosa* (Table 2). It has already been collected from *Eriobotrya japonica* (Thunb.) Lindl. and *Punica granatum* L. in Latakia governorate (Barbar, 2016, 2018). On the other hand, nine *Tetranychus* sp. (Tetranychidae) specimens were collected from *D. graveolens* and *D. viscosa* in six locations (Table 2). It was impossible to identify the specimens to species level as they were collected in female stage.

**Coleosporium inulae** seems as eventual source of alimentation of *T. isotricha*

*Typhloseiella isotricha* was observed on *D. viscosa* near or close to the opened spots of rust (Figure 2). The highest density of this predator was observed on big leaves (mean ± SE mites per leaf: 2.13 ± 0.31) (Figure 3) having high density of rust spots (3.30 ± 0.24 spot per leaf). It was significantly different from big leaves without rust spots (0.13 ± 0.06 mites/leaf) (*H* = 61.1; df = 1; *P* < 0.001), but also from small leaves with low density of rust spots (0.13 ± 0.07) (0.08 ± 0.04 mites/leaf) (*H* = 57.8; df = 1; *P* < 0.001). No significant differences were recorded between small leaves with rust and big leaves without rust (*H* = 3.5; df = 1; *P* < 1.00).

The distribution of *T. isotricha* on different groups of *D. viscosa* leaves follows a negative binomial distribution and very similar to this of rust spots (Figure 4). The value of the index of aggregation (I = 2.9; S² = 2.226 and *m* = 0.77) is > 1, and the *k* exponent of the negative binomial distribution (*k* = 0.41) suggests a highly aggregate distribution. Moreover, the presence of rust spots on leaves of *D. viscosa* seems a significant predictor of the number of *T. isotricha* on this plant. Actually, the coefficient estimate “B” = 0.752, SE = 0.01, *P* < 0.001 and the incidence rate ratio, Exp (B) = 2.12, indicates that for every one unit increase on the predictor (rust spots), the number of *T. isotricha* increases by a percent of 21.2%.

These results seem to show that *T. isotricha* prefers big leaves of *D. viscosa* that are highly infested by the rust spots of *C. inulae*. These results suggest that rust spores could be a potential food source for *T. isotricha*. The presence of all developmental stages of this predator on leaves infected by the rust and, the absence of other sources of feeding such as phytophagous mites on examined leaves would indicate that the predator could feed, survive, develop and probably
<figure><img src="image_11.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 4** Number of *T. isotricha* and rust spots of *C. inulae* on leaves of *D. viscosa* leaves</figcaption></figure>

reproduce on rust spores. As already reported, several phytoseiid species have the ability to feed on fungi: *Typhlodromus pyri* Scheuten and *Amblyseius andersoni* (Chant), for example, could survive, develop and oviposit on grape downy mildew *Plasmopara viticola* (Berk. & Curtis) Berlese & De Toni (Pozzebon and Duso, 2008) and *Ricoseius loxocheles* (De Leon) can feed and develop successfully when feeding exclusively on coffee rust *Hemileia vastatrix* Berk. & Broome (Oliveira, 2012). Therefore, experiments under laboratory conditions should be carried out in order to clarify the biology and to test the predation ability and feeding habits of *T. isotricha* on different preys and sources of alimentation.

## Acknowledgements

The authors thank M. Fawaz Azmeh for his valuable help in the identification of the fungus; also thank M. Almokdad for his valuable comments on statistical analysis.

## ORCID

Walaa Ebrahim ID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-0523-9029

Ziad Barbar ID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5784-0340

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