# Predatory mites of the family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) in Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (Romania)

Adina Călugăr, Theodoros Stathakis, Georgios Th. Papadoulis

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Adina Călugăr, Theodoros Stathakis, Georgios Th. Papadoulis. Predatory mites of the family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) in Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (Romania). Acarologia, 2023, 63 (1), pp.58-66. 10.24349/w9fc-x845. hal-03942546

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# Predatory mites of the family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) in Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (Romania)

Adina Călugăr IDª, Theodoros Stathakis IDᵇ, Georgios Th. Papadoulisᵇ

## Original research

### ABSTRACT

In Romania, phytoseiid mites was notified sporadically with the occasion of some ecological works referring to the whole Mesostigmata. Seven years of investigations carried out in Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve led to the identification of 12 species belonging to the family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) namely *Amblyseius meridionalis* Berlese, *A obtusus* (Koch) sensu Karg, *A. terreus* Kolodochka, *Graminaseius graminis* (Chant), *Neoseiulus alpinus* (Schweizer), *N. cinctutus* (Livshitz & Kuznetsov), *N. extricatus* (Kolodochka), *N. tervus* Meshkov, *Proprioseiopsis messor* (Wainstein), *P. scurra* (Wainstein & Beglyarov), *Transeius macrospermathecus* Papadoulis, Emmanuel & Kapaxidi, *Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) kerkirae* Swirski & Ragusa. With the exception of *A. meridionalis* and *A. obtusus* the rest of the species are reported for the first time from Romania.

**Keywords** distribution; first record; predatory mites; fauna; Romania

### Introduction

Species of the family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) are known especially for their role in the biological control of many pests, such as phytophagous mites, thrips and other small insects (Gerson *et al.* 2003, McMurtry *et al.* 2013). Members of this family inhabit a wide range of terrestrial substrates, such as vegetable crops, perennial shrubs and trees canopy, and occasionally can be found in moss, herbal rhizosphere and soil (Kolodochka 2006, Krantz and Walter 2009). Phytoseiid mites are widely distributed around the world and currently include 2,557 valid species belonging to three subfamilies and 94 genera (Demite *et al.* 2014, 2022). In Romania, Phytoseiidae fauna is virtually unknown, with only two species – *Amblyseius meridionalis* Berlese, 1914 and *A. obtusus* (Koch, 1839) being recorded from moss habitats (bark, rock and soil moss) sampled in different mountain forests (Manu *et al.* 2018a). Both species were also found in two central parks from Bucharest (Manu and Honciuc 2010, Manu *et al.* 2018b). An opportunity to a better knowledge of the phytoseiid species was the wide investigation carried out between 2015 and 2021 in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. This ample research targeted the biodiversity of edaphic meso-fauna in different ecosystems of this important wetland of Europe. It is well known the fact that Danube Delta represents a key center for biodiversity of its various types of ecosystems such as wet, arid, and salted meadows as well as sandy and rocky areas, forests on high banks or even anthropogenic ecosystems developed

Received 25 July 2022
Accepted 02 December 2022
Published 13 January 2023

Corresponding author
Adina Călugăr ID:
adina.calugar@icbiasi.ro

Academic editor
Kreiter, Serge

https://doi.org/10.24349/w9fc-x845

ISSN 0044-586X (print)
ISSN 2107-7207 (electronic)

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Călugăr A. et al.

Licensed under
Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0

<footnote>ªDepartment of Experimental and Applied Biology, NIRDBS-Institute of Biological Research Iași, Lascăr Catargi Street no. 47, 700107, Iași, Romania.</footnote>

<footnote>ᵇLaboratory of Agricultural Zoology and Entomology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 118 55 Athens, Greece.</footnote>
for economic reasons. On the occasion of these investigations, among other Mesostigmata, phytoseiid mites were identified from different types of habitats.

## Material and methods

The survey took place in different years (2015, 2017, 2018, 2021), in various ecosystems, such as natural forests (2), plantations (10), meadows (6), agricultural crops (9) of Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. From the above-mentioned ecosystems 31 plots were studied, plus one plot with *Cannabis ruderalis* Janisch (Cannabaceae) (Table 1).

In all investigated plots, there were taken series of five samples (5 cm depth), those from the forest ecosystems were divided into two sub horizons – olf (litter and fermentation layer) and ah (humification layer). Each sample had an area of 100 cm². In the case of the soil samples extracted from the meadows, the herbaceous layer was not removed.

Mites from soil samples were extracted using Berlese-Tullgren funnels. Specimens were

<table><caption>**Table 1** Main characteristics of the investigated plots.</caption><thead><tr><th>Locality</th><th>Coordinates</th><th>Altitude (m asl)</th><th>Type of ecosystem</th><th>Vegetation cover</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Letea*</td><td>45°18'50"N 29°34'22"E</td><td>5</td><td>meso-higrophilous meadow</td><td>Convolvulus persicus L., Carex colchica J. Gay, Eryngium maritimum L., Ephedra distachya L., Alyssum borzeanum (Nyar)</td></tr><tr><td>Letea-Haşmacul Mare*</td><td>45°20'25"N 29°31'32"E</td><td>5</td><td>natural forest</td><td>Quercus robur L., Q. pedunculiflora K. Koch., Populus alba L.</td></tr><tr><td>Chilia Veche</td><td>45°26'41"N 29°19'24"E</td><td>5</td><td>natural forest</td><td>P. alba L., Salix alba L., Ulmus minor Mill., Fraxinus excelsior L.</td></tr><tr><td>Plauru I</td><td>45°17'42"N 28°53'42"E</td><td>3</td><td>natural forest</td><td>P. alba L., S. alba L.</td></tr><tr><td>Plauru II</td><td>45°16'31"N 29°39'22"E</td><td>3</td><td>plantation</td><td>P. x canadensis Moench, S. alba L.</td></tr><tr><td>Pardina</td><td>45°18'28"N 28°57'24"E</td><td>2</td><td>plantation</td><td>S. alba L., P. alba L., Amorpha fruticosa L.</td></tr><tr><td>Beştepe</td><td>45°05'15"N 29°02'27"E</td><td>20</td><td>plantation</td><td>P. x canadensis Moench, A. fruticosa L.</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>plantation</td><td>P. alba L., Robinia pseudoacacia L.</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>xerophilous meadow</td><td>Stipa L., Xeranthemm annuum L., Euphorbia L., Achillea L., Hypericum perforatum L.</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>annual crop</td><td>Zea mays L.</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>annual crop</td><td>Helianthus annuus L.</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>annual crop</td><td>Brassica napus L.</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>plantation</td><td>Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle, Fraxinus ornus L., Crataegus monogyna Jacq.</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>plantation</td><td>Vitis vinifera L.</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>plantation</td><td>P. alba L., Robinia pseudoacacia L.</td></tr><tr><td>Murighiol*</td><td>45°26'6"N 29°15'9"E</td><td>11</td><td>salinized meadow</td><td>Salicornia europaea L., Puccinellia distans (L.) Parl., P. limosa Parl., Hordeum marinum Huds., Trifolium fragiferum L.</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>annual crop</td><td>Hordeum vulgare L., H. annuus L., Medicago sativa L.</td></tr><tr><td>Plopu</td><td>45°01'55"N 29°08'12"E</td><td>8</td><td>salinized meadow</td><td>S. europaea L., Bassia hirsuta (L.) Asch.</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>annual crop</td><td>Triticum aestivum L.</td></tr><tr><td>Sarinasuf</td><td>45°0.5'51"N 29°04'53"E</td><td>4</td><td>annual crop</td><td>Triticum aestivum L.</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>perennial crop</td><td>M. sativa L.</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>salinized meadow</td><td>Spergularia marina (L.) Besser, S. rubra J. Presl & C. Pres, Puccinellia maritima (Huds.) Parl., Juncus gerardii Loisel., Halimione verucifera (M.Bieb.), Aellen, S. europaea L.</td></tr><tr><td>Sarichioi</td><td>44°55'35"N 28°50'13"E</td><td>13</td><td>annual crop</td><td>T. aestivum L., Pisum sativum L.</td></tr><tr><td>Enisala</td><td>44°54'34"N 28°49'56"E</td><td>26</td><td>salinized meadow</td><td>Limonium gmelini (Willd.) Kuntze., H. verucifera (M.Bieb.), Aellen, S. europaea L.</td></tr><tr><td>Sabangia</td><td>44°58'30"N 28°52'59"E</td><td>3</td><td>meadow</td><td>Unidentified Poaceae</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>strip of land</td><td>Cannabis ruderalis Janisch</td></tr><tr><td>Pătlăgeanca</td><td>45°12'55"N 28°41'41"E</td><td>3</td><td>meadow</td><td>Unidentified Poaceae, Elaeagnus angustifolia L.</td></tr></tbody></table>

<footnote>* strictly protected areas</footnote>
cleared in lactic acid solution 70% and mounted in Hoyer's medium (Krantz and Walter 2009). Measurements of the dorsal setae at females were made and brief comments regarding the morphology of the species were provided. Measurements are given in micrometers (µm) and presented as mean followed by the range in parenthesis. We have used Chant and McMurtry's (1994, 2007) concepts on the taxonomy of the family Phytoseiidae and the world catalogue database of Demite *et al.* (2014, 2022) for distribution. The samples were collected either by Dr Adina Călugăr or by Dr Otilia Ivan from Institute of Biological Research Iași (ICBI). All examined specimens are deposited in the collection of the institute. The protonymphs and deutonymphs were noted with respectively PN and DN abbreviations. It was used the abbreviation "leg." derived from Latin expression "legit" meaning "he, she, or it collected" with reference to who collected the material.

## Results

**Family Phytoseiidae Berlese, 1916**

**Subfamily Amblyseiinae Muma, 1961**

**Tribe Amblyseiini Wainstein, 1962**

**Subtribe Amblyseina Chant & McMurtry, 2004**

**Genus Amblyseius Berlese, 1914**

**Amblyseius meridionalis Berlese, 1914**

**Material examined** — Letea-Hășmacul Mare, forest (11 May 2016) 2 ♀♀ leg. Ivan, ICBI, Pardina, *Populus alba* plantation (30 June 2021) 4 ♀♀ leg. Ivan, ICBI.

**Length of setae** — *j1* 23 (20–25), *j3* 47 (45–48), *j4-j6*, *J2*, *J5*, *z2-z5*, *Z1*, *S2*, *S4*, *S5*, *R1* (minute), *Z4* 97 (93–100), *Z5* 147 (145–150), *s4* 58 (55–63), *r3* 12.

**World distribution** — Algeria, Canada - British Columbia, Ontario, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Morocco, Poland, Russia - Tyumen, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, USA - Michigan (Demite *et al.* 2022) and Romania (this study).

**Hosts / Substrates** — On moss, litter under *Juniperus* spp. (Cupressaceae), *Thymus* spp. (Lamiaceae), *Achillea* spp. (Asteraceae), *Androsace* spp. (Primulaceae), Poaceae, *Senecio* spp. (Asteraceae), unidentified plant (Papadoulis *et al.* 2009), humus, soil, *Hyparrhenia hirta* (L.) Stapf. (Poaceae) (Demite *et al.* 2022).

Previously, in Romania *A. meridionalis* was reported from moss samples (bark moss, rock moss and soil moss) taken from mature (over 80 years) natural forests located between 378 and 1445 m a.s.l. (Manu *et al.* 2018a).

**Remarks** — Although *A. meridionalis* is mentioned as resistant to dry habitats such as agro-ecosystems, dunes or inland meadows (Manu *et al.* 2018b), in our study it was found only in forest ecosystems. Morphological characters of the examined specimens fit well with those of the redescription of Döker *et al.* (2020). At Romanian specimens of *A. meridionalis* fixed digit have four teeth (three of them are minute, and one bigger next to *pilus dentilis*), movable digit edentate. The length of setae is smaller than that of Turkish individuals and closer to that of *Amblyseius meridionalis* sensu Livshitz & Kuznetsov (1972) (Döker *et al.* 2020).

**Amblyseius obtusus (Koch, 1839) sensu Karg 1960**

**Material examined** — Murighiol, meadow (24 July 2015) 1 ♀ leg. Ivan, ICBI; Murighiol, meadow (13 July 2018) 10 ♀♀ leg. Ivan, ICBI.

**Length of setae** — *j1* 27 (25–28), *j3* 39 (35–43), *j4-j6*, *J2*, *J5*, *z2-z5*, *Z1* (minute), *Z4* 118 (90–139), *Z5* 282 (270–302), *s4* 97 (93–100), *S2* 9 (9–10), *S4* 9 (9–10), *S5* 9, *r3* 10, *R1* 9 (7–10).
**World distribution** — Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Azores, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Haiti, Hawaii, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Moldova, Morocco, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, USA, Venezuela (Demite *et al.* 2022).

**Hosts / Substrates** — The phenotype was found on rotten palm leaves, but *A. obtusus* is mostly present on herbaceous – *Achillea* spp. and *Senecio* spp. (Asteraceae) (Papadoulis *et al.* 2009) and shrub plants. It was rarely observed on *Vitis vinifera* L. (Vitaceae) (Tixier *et al.* 2013). Previously, in Romania *A. obtusus* was reported from moss samples (bark and soil moss) taken from mature (over 80 years) natural forests located between 378 and 1445 m asl (Manu *et al.* 2018a).

**Remarks** — *Amblyseius obtusus* is a cosmopolitan species, reported in more than 30 countries (Demite *et al.* 2022). Also, its ubiquity character is showed by the fact that it was found in Greece at 2300 m asl (Papadoulis *et al.* 2009), in Romania in two parks of Bucharest (75 m asl) (Manu and Honciuc 2010), as well as at 378–1445 m asl (Manu *et al.* 2018a) and with the occasion of our study at 11 m asl. However, in our study it was found in only meadow. Morphological characters and measurements of the Romanian specimens are very close to those described by Döker *et al.* (2020).

## Amblyseius terreus Kolodochka, 2003

**Material examined** — Letea, meadow (22 July 2015) 1 ♂ leg. Ivan, ICBI; Letea, meadow (11 May 2016) 2 ♀♀ leg. Călugăr, ICBI; Plopu, meadow (13 July 2018) 8♀♀, 2 ♂♂, 1DN leg. Ivan, ICBI; Beştepe, meadow (12 July 2018) 4 ♀♀, 1 ♂ leg. Ivan, ICBI; Murighiol, meadow (13 July 2018) 33 ♀♀, 15 ♂♂ leg. Ivan, ICBI; Murighiol, *P. alba* L. (Salicaceae) and *Robinia pseudoacacia* L. (Fabaceae) plantation (30 June 2021) 4 ♀♀ leg. Ivan, ICBI.

**Length of setae** — *j1* 26 (25–28), *j3* 35 (30–38), *j4-j6*, *J2*, *J5*, *z5*, *Z1*, *S2*, *S4*, *S5* (minute), *z2* 22 (18–23), *z4* 22 (18–23), *Z4* 67 (63–75), *Z5* 147 (135–155), *s4* 55 (50–60), *r3* 18 (15–20), *R1* 16 (13–18).

**World distribution** — Ukraine (Demite *et al.* 2022) and Romania (this study).

**Hosts / Substrates** — Soil and litter at the roots of oak (*Quercus* spp.- Fagaceae), as well as from sand and gravel from interstitial zone on sea-beach of Crimea (Kolodochka 2003; Demite *et al.* 2022).

**Remarks** — Our findings recommend this species as being a preferential praticolous one, in DDBR being found only in meadows, never in the samples from forests. *Amblyseius terreus* was described from Crimea and until now no other reports of this species are available. Therefore, this new record is also significant from zoogeographical point of view. With 70 specimens in total, in four stands, this species was one of the most abundant species within this survey. Morphological characters are very close to the original description.

## Genus Graminaseius Chant & McMurtry, 2004

### Graminaseius graminis (Chant, 1956)

**Material examined** — Murighiol, meadow (13 July 2018) 29♀♀, 14♂♂, 6PN leg. Ivan, ICBI.

**Length of setae** — *j1* 24 (23–25), *j3* 37 (35–40), *j4* 10 (8–13), *j5* 10 (8–10), *j6* 9 (8–10), *J2* 9 (8–10), *J5* 9 (8–10), *z2* 24 (23–25), *z4* 30 (28–35), *z5* 7 (5–10), *Z1* 28 (25–30) *Z4* 65, *Z5* 72 (68–75), *s4* 52 (50–53), *S2* 30 (28–34), *S4* 10, *S5* 10, *r3* 28 (25–33), *R1* 22 (18–25).

**World distribution** — Algeria, Australia, Denmark, England, France, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Ukraine, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy Morocco, Norway, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Canary Islands, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, USA, Chile (Demite *et al.* 2022) and Romania (this study).

**Hosts / Substrates** — It has been rarely found in crops and is mostly reported on herbaceous plants (Lamiaceae), *Ficus carica* L. (Moraceae), Poaceae, in humus and moss. It has been
collected on a great variety of plants including plum, pear, apple, citrus (Ferragut et al. 1985; Minarro et al. 2002; Kreiter et al. 2010; Sahraoui et al. 2012). Also, it was reported on *V. vinifera* in France and Chile (Demite et al. 2022; Tixier et al. 2013).

**Remarks** — *Graminaseius graminis* is a cosmopolitan species, being reported from more than 20 countries. Its discovery on many plants supports it is a common species. Morphological characters of the examined specimens generally fit with those described by Döker (2019).

## Tribe Neoseiulini Chant & McMurtry, 2003

## Genus Neoseiulus Hughes, 1948

### Neoseiulus alpinus (Schweizer, 1922)

**Material examined** — Murighiol, meadow (24 July 2015) 3 ♀♀ leg. Ivan, ICBI; Murighiol, meadow (06 June 2017) 2 ♀♀ leg. Ivan, ICBI; Sarinasuf, meadow (06 June 2017) 2 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂ leg. Ivan, ICBI; Sarinasuf, meadow (10 August 2017) 2 ♂♂ leg. Călugăr, ICBI; Sarinasuf, meadow, (13 July 2018) 2 ♀♀ leg. Ivan, ICBI.

**Length of setae** — *j1* 15 (13–20), *j3* 17 (15–25), *j4* 16 (10–15), *j5* 11 (10–13), *j6* 12 (10–13), *J2* 13 (10–15), *J5* 12 (10–15), *z2* 14 (10–15), *z4* 14 (10–8), *z5* 11 (10–13), *Z1* 16 (15–18), *Z4* 29 (25–30), *Z5* 41 (33–45), *s4* 25, *S2* 22 (15–25), *S4* 22 (15–25), *S5* 18 (13–25), *r3* 16 (13–20), *R1* 17 (15–20).

**World distribution** — Algeria, Australia, Belgium, Cuba, Czech Republic, England, France, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Greece, Hawaii, Hungary, Italy, Jordan, Norway, Poland, Switzerland, Spain, Turkey and USA (Arizona, California, Washington) (Demite et al. 2022) and Romania (this study).

**Hosts / Substrates** — On moss, grass, unidentified low-growing plants, *Pyrus malus* L. (Rosaceae), *Ballota acetabulosa* (L.) (Lamiaceae), *Ulex europaeus* L. (Fabaceae), in soil (Papadoulis et al. 2009, Demite et al. 2022).

**Remarks** — *Neoseiulus alpinus* is a cosmopolitan species present in more than 20 countries. Our findings indicated the preference of this species to praticolous ecosystems. Morphological characters are very close to the redescriptions provided by Evans (1987) and Ferragut et al. (2010).

### Neoseiulus cinctutus (Livshitz & Kuznetsov, 1972)

**Material examined** — Murighiol, meadow (24 July 2015) 1 ♀ leg. Ivan, ICBI; Letea, meadow (11 May 2016) 1 ♀ leg. Călugăr, ICBI; Sarinasuf, alfalfa crop (07 May 2017) 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂ leg. Ivan, ICBI; Sarichioi, green peas (07 June 2017) 1♀, 1 ♂ leg. Ivan, ICBI; Murighiol, barley crop (06 June 2017) 2 ♀♀, 2 DN leg. Ivan, ICBI; Plopu, meadow (13 July 2018) 1 ♀ leg. Ivan, ICBI; Murighiol, meadow (13 July 2018) 16 ♀♀, 8 ♂♂ leg. Ivan, ICBI; Sarinasuf, meadow (13 July 2018) 2 ♀♀ leg. Ivan, ICBI.

**Length of setae** — *j1* 15 (13–18), *j3* 21 (18–25), *j4* 14 (13–15), *j5* 13 (10–15), *j6* 13 (10–15), *J2* 15 (10–18), *J5* 13 (10–15), *z2* 16 (13–18), *z4* 18 (15–20), *z5* 13 (10–13), *Z1* 18 (15–28), *Z4* 38 (33–50), *Z5* 54 (53–58), *s4* 26 (25–28), *S2* 27 (25–30), *S4* 24 (20–28), *S5* 19 (18–20), *r3* 16 (15–18), *R1* 17 (15–18).

**World distribution** — Former USSR (Crimea, Georgia), Greece, Turkey (Demite et al. 2022) and Romania (this study).

**Hosts / Substrates** — *Verbascum graecum* Heldr. & Sart (Scrophulariaceae), *Plantago* spp. (Plantaginaceae), *Aesculum hippocastanum* L. (Sapindaceae), on unidentified plants (Papadoulis et al. 2009, Demite et al. 2022).

**Remarks** — An occurrence analysis shows that *N. cinctutus* is one of the most frequent species in DDBR, being found in seven plots among the 24 plots under investigations. Morphological characters of the examined specimens generally fit with those of the original description and the redescription by Döker (2019).
**Neoseiulus extricates** (Kolodochka, 1991)

**Material examined** — Murighiol, meadow (06 June 2017) 1 ♀, 1 ♂ leg. Ivan, ICBI; Enisala, meadow (07 June 2017) 2 ♀♀, 4 ♂♂ leg. Ivan, ICBI; Sarinasuf, meadow (06 June 2017) 7 ♀♀, 7 ♂♂ leg. Ivan, ICBI; Sarinasuf, alfalfa crop (07 June 2017) 5 ♀♀, 6 ♂♂ leg. Ivan, ICBI.

**Length of setae** — *j1* 18 (15–20), *j3* 20 (15–25), *j4* 13 (10–15), *j5* 13 (10–15), *j6* 13 (13–15), *J2* 14 (13–15), *J5* 10 (8–13), *z2* 18, *z4* 18, *z5* 13, *Z1* 19 (13–23), *Z4* 27 (25–28), *Z5* 34 (28–38), *s4* 20, *S2* 21 (18–23), *S4* 19 (15–20), *S5* 19 (15–20), *r3* 14 (13–15), *R1* 18 (13–25).

**World distribution** — Kazakhstan, Ukraine (Demite *et al.* 2022) and Romania (this study).

**Hosts / Substrates** — Asteraceae: *Artemisia taurica* Willd. (Asteraceae).

**Remarks** — Inclusive with the occasion of this study, *N. extricates* was mentioned only from three countries in the vicinity. So far, its findings in all these countries recommend this species as a praticolous one. Morphological characters of the examined specimens generally fit with those of the original description.

**Neoseiulus tervus** Meshkov, 1994

**Material examined** — Sarinasuf, sunflower crop (07 June 2017) 1 ♀, 1 ♂, 1PN leg. Ivan, ICBI; Murighiol, meadow (06 June 2017) 1 ♂ leg. Ivan, ICBI.

**Length of setae** — *j1* 16, *j3* 20, *j4* 6, *j5* 6, *j6* 8, *J2* 8, *J5* 8, *z2* 16, *z4* 16, *z5* 4, *Z1* 16, *Z4* 46, *Z5* 65, *s4* 30, *S2* 21, *S4* 14, *S5* 10, *r3* 18, *R1* 18.

**World distribution** — Southwestern Russia – Samara (Demite *et al.* 2022) and Romania (this study).

**Hosts / Substrates** — Unidentified plant family: herb; Poaceae: Grass; soil (Demite *et al.* 2022).

**Remarks** — So far, *N. tervus* was identified only from two neighbouring countries. It seems to be a rare species, being found only in meadows and crops as few specimens. Morphological characters of the examined specimens generally fit with those of the original description.

**Subtribe Proprioseiopsina Chant & McMurtry, 2004**

**Genus Proprioseiopsis Muma, 1961**

**Proprioseiopsis messor** (Wainstein, 1960)

**Material examined** — Letea-Hăşmacul Mare, forest (11 May 2016) 1 ♀ leg. Ivan, ICBI.

**Length of setae** — *j1* 38, *j3* 50, *j4-j6*, *z5*, *Z1* *S2*, *S4* (minute), *J5* 10, *z2*, *z4* (broken), *Z4* 163, *Z5* 217, *s4* 120, *S5* (broken), *r3* 20, *R1* 15.

**World distribution** — Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Canary Islands, Egypt, France, Gaza Strip, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Morocco, New Zealand, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Syria, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, USA (Demite *et al.* 2022) and Romania (this study).

**Hosts / Substrates** — Poaceae – grass, white clover, strawberry, apple, plum, and plants (Schicha 1987), Poaceae, pine litter, humus, moss, on *Portulaca* spp. (Portulacaceae) (Papadoulis *et al.* 2009).

**Remarks** — *Proprioseiopsis messor* is a cosmopolitan species reported in many countries and a common one, being found on many plants. However, only one specimen of *P. messor* was found in our study. The single collected specimen from Romania has morphological characters like the redescription provided by Ostovan *et al.* (2012). However, the dorsal setae *z4* and *z5* of the Romanian specimens are not serrate and have longer lengths than those from Iran, being comparable with populations of *P. messor* found in Ukraine (Ostovan *et al.* 2012).

**Proprioseiopsis scurra** (Wainstein & Beglyarov, 1971)

**Material examined** — Letea, meadow (11 May 2016) 1 ♂ leg. Călugăr, ICBI; Plopu, meadow (13 July 2018) 1 ♂ leg. Ivan, ICBI; Murighiol, meadow (13 July 2018) 4 ♀♀ leg. Ivan, ICBI.
**Length of setae** — *j1* 25, *j3* (broken), *j4-j6* (minute), *J5* 8, *z2* 15, *z4* 13, *z5*, *Z1* 12 (10–13), *Z4* 73 (65–83), *Z5* 77 (68–83), *s4* 50, *S2* 10, *S4* 10, *S5* 10, *r3* 18, *R1* 10.

**World distribution** — Japan, Kazakhstan, Russia – Primorsky Territory (Demite *et al.* 2022) and Romania (this study).

**Hosts / Substrates** — Unidentified herb (Demite *et al.* 2022).

**Remarks** — Until now *P. scurra* was reported only from Asia, but with the occasion of this research it was proved that the distribution of this species was extended to Europe as well. *Proprioseiopsis scurra* was presented only in the samples from the investigated meadows. Morphological characters of the examined specimens fit with those of the original description.

**Genus Transeius Chant & McMurtry, 2004**

**Transeius macrospermathecus Papadoulis, Emmanuelou & Kapaxidi, 2009**

**Material examined** — Murighiol, meadow (13 July 2018) 16 ♀♀, 8 ♂♂ leg. Ivan, ICBI; Pardina, *Populus alba* plantation (30 June 2021) 4 ♀♀ leg. Ivan, ICBI.

**Length of setae** — *j1* 25 (26–27), *j3* 44 (43–45), *j4* 7 (5–8), *j5* 7 (5–8), *j6* 8 (7–9), *J2* 9 (8–11), *J5* 9 (8–11), *z2* 9 (7–10), *z4* 30 (30–32), *z5* 5 (5–6), *Z1* 13 (10–15) *Z4* 84 (80–85), *Z5* 100 (98–100), *s4* 78 (75–80), *S2* 35 (30–38), *S4* 17 (13–20), *S5* 12 (8–13), *r3* 14 (13–15), *R1* 14 (13–15).

**World distribution** — Greece (Demite *et al.* 2022) and Romania (this study).

**Hosts / Substrates** — On moss (Papadoulis *et al.* 2009).

**Remarks** — *Transeius macrospermathecus* was only known based on its original description from Greece. Morphological characters of the Romanian specimens generally fit with those of the original description.

**Subfamily Typhlodrominae Scheuten, 1857; Wainstein, Chant & McMurtry, 1994**

**Tribe Typhlodromini Wainstein, 1962**

**Genus Typhlodromus Scheuten, 1857**

**Subgenus Anthoseius De Leon, 1959**

**Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) kerkirae Swirski & Ragusa, 1976**

**Material examined** — Letea, meadow (11 May 2016) 1 ♀ leg. Călugăr, ICBI.

**Length of setae** — *j1* 25, *j3* 28, *j4* 13, *j5* 15, *j6* 18, *J2* 25, *J5* 10, *z2* 20, *z3* 25, *z4* 30, *z5* 15, *Z4* 38, *Z5* 50, *s4* 28, *s6* 28, *S2* 30, *S4* 30, *S5* 30, *r3* 25, *R1* 18.

**World distribution** — Croatia, France, Italy, Greece, Iran, Spain, Turkey (Demite *et al.* 2022) and Romania (this study).

**Hosts / Substrates** — This species was described from Greece on *Malus sylvestris* (L.) Mill. It is not a widely distributed species, and it has been collected only from a few host plants, mainly cultivated crops, such as *Vitis* spp. (Vitaceae) (Castagnoli and Liguori 1987) and *Ficus* spp. (Moraceae) (Demite *et al.* 2022).

**Remarks** — Morphological characters of the examined specimens fit with those of the original description.

**Conclusions**

This study is carried out in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (Romania). Phytoseiid mites were found only in 11 of a total of 32 investigated plots. As a result, ten new records for the fauna of this country was determined. Two other species, namely *Amblyseius obtusus* and *A. meridionalis* were previously reported from Romania, but only one – *A. obtusus* is mentioned
in the world database of Phytoseiidae as being identified in Romania as well (Demite et al. 2022). Thus, the fauna of Phytoseiidae of Romania is now compound of 12 species belonging to Amblyseiini (8), Neoseiulini (3) and Typhlodromini (1). From zoogeographical point of view, these records are important in the sense that distribution of some species proved to be larger than it was expected until now.

## Acknowledgements

Many thanks are expressed to Dr M. Huțanu (University of Life Sciences Iași, Romania) for plants identification. Also, we would like to thank the editor-in-chief Dr Serge Kreiter and the two anonymous reviewers, who contributed at the improvement of this article with valuable comments and suggestions. This study is a part of a wider investigation dedicated to the edaphic mesofauna and it was conducted within BIODIVERS Research program, coordinated by NIRDBS Bucharest and funded by the Romanian Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitization.

## ORCID

Adina Călugăr ID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5948-0219

Theodoros Stathakis ID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8023-1797

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