Ukrainian Journal of Ecology
Ukrainian Journal ofEcology, 2020, 10(1), 199-209, doi: 10.15421/2020_32
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Erythraeid mites (Acariformes: Actinedida: Erythraeidae) of the Greater Caucasus region of Azerbaijan
Gulnar A. Alizade
Faculty of Biology, Azerbaijan State Pedogogical University, /Azerbaijan E-mail: gulnar. alizade1993@mail. ru Received: 03.02.2020 Accepted 03.03.2020
The summary is given in the article about the observed species of the Erythraeidae Robineau- Desvoidy, 1828 mites in the Greater Caucasus Region of Azerbaijan. 25 species belonging to 8 genera of 5 sub-families have been found. Among them 1 sub-family (Balaustiinae Grandjean, 1947), 4 genera (Erythraeus Latreille, 1806, Curteria Southcott, 1961, Ba/austium v.Heyden, 1826, Neobalaustium Willmann, 1951) and 22 species are new for the Caucasian fauna. 2 subfamilies (Callidosomatinae Southcott, 1961 and Abrolophinae Witte, 1995), 2 genera (Char/etonia oudemans, 1910 and Abroiophus Beriese, 1891) and 1 species (Char/etonia cardinaiis (Pallas, 1772)) are new for the studied area. Abroiophus Berlese, 1891 genera are rich with species, 8 species have been found. The found species are spread over the altitudes and landscape zones, landscapes and forest biotopes. Also, the zoogeographic analysis of the erythraeid mites was carried out and they were divided into ecological groups. The studies show that the base of the fauna of the Erythraeidae Robineau-Desvoidy, 1828 mites in the Greater Caucasus region consists of 3 zoogeographic groups: European species (9 species), Central European species (5 species), Holarctic species (4 species).
Key words: Acari; Erythraeidae; Greater caucasus; Landscapes; Biotopes; Zoogeographic groups
Introduction
The fauna of the Caucasian Erythraeidae mites have not been studied almost carefully before our studies. Totally, 6 species belonging to 5 genera of 5 sub-families have been found: Eatoniana plumffera (Birula 1893), Leptus molochinus (C.L.Koch, 1837), Leptus species, Abroiophus species, Char/etonia cardinaiis, Myrmicothrombium species (Aslanov 2015; Beron 2008; Noei 2015; Makol and Sevsay 2015). The aim of our research is detailed study Erythraeid mites of the Greater Caucasus region of Azerbaijan. However, only 2 species of 2 genera (Leptus molochinus, Eatoniana plumffera) have been known in the Greater Caucasian part of Azerbaijan (Aslanov and Musayeva 2003). Today, 28 species of the Erythraeidae mites belonging to 9 genera of 6 sub-families are known in the Caucasian fauna thanks to our studies. As well as, 25 species belonging to 8 genera have been studied in the Greater Caucasian region. 1 sub-family (Balaustiinae), 4 genera (Erythraeus, Curteria, Baiaustium, Neobalaustium) and 22 species are new for the Caucasian fauna. 2 sub-families (Callidosomatinae and Abrolophinae), 2 genera (Charietonia and Abroiophus) and 1 species (Char/etonia cardinaiis) are new for the studied area.
Materials and Methods
The Erythraeid mites are collected by different methods. The Erythraeidae mites are collected from the plant by means of shaking method. The Erythraeidae mites are collected by a fluffy thin brush soaked with water that fixes the mites from the walls of the buildings, trunks of the trees and bushes, the surface of soil and under the rocks. The collection of the Erythraeidae mites emerging in the soil, on the floor, in the autumn leaves, in the mosses and lichens, and on the tree trunks is carried out by means of eclector or sifter (Winkler device). Also, the hunting boxes (Barber traps) with fixed water are used for the collection of the Erythraeidae mites living in the soil. The 7x - 10x hand lens is used for the collection of the Erythraeidae mites. The mites collected by different methods are included into the test tubes which have fixed water (70-75% ethyl alcohol). Each test tube is labelled. In order to decolorize the mites, 50% lactic acid is used. The post-larval stage of the Erythraeidae mites is softened at KOH before the fixation. In order to define the mites and to study the morphological characteristic of them, the permanent drugs are made from these mites under the binocular (MBS-1 microscope) in the Phorate liquid (composition: 30 gr hummiarabic, 200 gr chloral- hydrate, 20 gr glycerine, 50 gr water). The prescription of the preparations is carried out by means of suitable MBIS-3, Olympus CX-41, MBI-15U4.2 microscopes. When working with the MBI-3 and MBI-15U4.2 microscopes, a phased contrast, oil or water immersion is used. The mites are measured by an ocular micrometre. The photos aretaken by means of RA-6 painting apparatus or camera (Aslanov and Alizade 2018; Noei et al. 2019; Makol and Sevsay 2015).
The study was carried out in different localities of the Greater Caucasus natural region during 2017-2019 (Table 1 and Figure 1).
Table 1. Localites and coordinates of sampling areas.
40°19'38"N//49°43'48"E 40°29'32"N//50°8'20"E
Absheron peninsula
Guzdek Village 40°22'24"N//49°40'50"E Hokmeli Village 40°25'51"N//49°44'16"E Gobu Village 40°24'17"N//49°42'45"E Lokbatan Village Merdekan Village Gobustan district
Sundu Village 40°19'22"N//49°02'46"E Khilmilli Village 40°41'31"N//48°51'49"E Shamakhi district Chuxuryurd Village Dedegunesh Village
Khizi district
40°42'54"N//48°38'6"E 40°38'42"N//48°38'2"E
41°18'32"N//48°25'5"E 41°3'21"N//48°21'55"E
Bakhishli Village 40°53'59"N//48°58'57"E
SaPhbulaq 40°48'18"N//48°52'32"E
Garabulaqchay Village Siyazan district
Beshbarmaq 40°57'30"N//49°13'56"E
mountain
Shabran district
Erebler Village 41°16'30"N//48°51'30"E Khachmaz district
Lecet Village 41°41'45"N//48°37'17"E Guba district Ispik Village Jimi Village Gusar district Kuzun Village
Ismayilli district
Qalaciq Village 40°57'33"N//48°3'9"E Tircan Village 40°44'20"N//48°20'1"E Gabala district
Hemzeli Village 41°0'9"N//47°48'19"E
Sheki district
Ba§ Layski 41°21'3"N//47°5'8"E
Bash Shabalid Village Gakh district
Ilisu Village 41°28'0,72"N//47°03'31,5"E
Lekit Village 41°29'03"N//46°50'38"E Zagatala district
Jar Village 41°40'19"N//46°41'14"E
Qazangul Village
Balakan district
Zagatala State Reserve
Incirlik Village Bayil forest Badamdar plateau
Zabrat Settlement
Jeyranbatan Settlement
40°28'21"N//50°5'44,8"E
40°21'0"N//49°50'0"E
40°20'22"N//49°48'14"E
40°28'44"N//49°56'52"E 40°32'24"N//49°39'34"E
Giceki mountain 40°25'6"N//48°56'36"E
Jeyrankechmez river 40°29'19"N//40°03'40"E
Demirchi Village 40°50'32"N//48°33'45"E
Gizmeydan Village 40°46'11"N//48°44'52"E
Altiaghac Village Aladash range 40°50'0"N//49°5'23"E
Zarat Village
40°51'29"N//48°56'10"E 40°51'59"N//48°59'17"E
40°56'42"N//49°16'41"E
Devechi port lake 41°20'39"N//49°3'35"E
Murshudoba Village 41°30'33"N//48°45'22"E
Susay Village 41°18'40"N//48°17'17"E
Uzunmeshe Village 41°21'35"N//48°21'55"E
41°20'27"N//48°8'9"E
Basqal Settlement 40°45'20"N//48°23'47"E
Lahij Village 40°50'57"N//48°23'1,4"E
Qemervan
41°3'47"N//47°47'31"E
Bash Goynuk Village 41,33°0'0"N//47,12°0'0"E 41°18'12"N//47°7'11"E
Qum Village Gashgachay Village
Perzivan Village 41°35'0"N//46°38'0"E
41°48'7"N//46°37'40"E
41°27'26"N//46°54'35"E 41°32'34"N//47°02'33"E
41°34'9"N//46°42'15"E
Figure 1. Map of study area.
Results and Discussion
Erythraeidae
Erythraeinae Robineau-Desvoidy, 1828; Erythraeus latreille, 1806; Erythraeus gorcensis, Gabrys 2016
Materials examined: Absheron peninsula, Baku, artificial forest, under the rocks, 20.V.1984 (1 f*) (collected by O.Aslanov); Lerik district, Gosmalian village 28.V.1985 (1 f*) (collected by Kh.Aliyev).
Distribution: Central Europe, Poland, Switzerland (Beron 2008). The larvae and deutonymph were not found. Erythraeus phalangoides (De Geer, 1778)
Materials examined: Absheron peninsula, Baku, artificial forest, under the rocks, 15. X.1984 (2 spp.) (collected by O. Aslanov). Distribution: Europe; Caucasus: Azerbaijan; Asia: Kuril Islands; Greenland (Beron 2008) (Figure 2).
Erythraeus regalis (C.L. Koch, 1837)
Materials examined: Absheron peninsula, Baku, under the rocks, 20.V.1984 (3 spp.) (collected by O. Aslanov); Baku, Garden of the Institute of Zoology of ANAS, over the red-berry mite (Homoptera suborder), 18.V.1988 (1 larva) (collected by O. Aslanov); Gobustan region, Sundu village, different grassy steppe, plants, 15.V.2018 (1 spp.); Gakh district, Gum village, chestnut forest, plants, 29.VI.2018 (2 spp.).
Distribution: Europe; Caucasus: Azerbaijan; North-Western Africa: Algeria (Beron 2008), (Figure 3).
Figure 3. Erythraeus regaiis. Pedipalp (tarsus, tibia and genu); b) tibia of the first leg.
Erythraeus opilionoides (C.L. Koch, 1837)
Materials examined: Ismayilli district, Galacig village, broad-leaved forest, under the rocks, 22.VI.2014 (1 spp.) (collected by O. Aslanov). Lerik district, Gosmalian village, 28.V.1985 (1 f*) (collected by Kh. Aliyev). Distribution: Europe; Caucasus: Azerbaijan (Wohltmann 2013) (Figure 4).
Figure 4. Pedipalp of the Erythraeus opilionoides. Erythraeus adpendiculatus (Schrank, 1781)
Materials examined: Absheron peninsula, Baku, artificial forest, under the rocks, 12.V.1984, (1spp.) (collected by O. Aslanov); 20.V.1984 (5 spp.) (collected O. Aslanov) (Figures 5 and 6). Distribution: Caucasus: Azerbaijan (Wohltmann 2013).
Figure 5. III and IV legs' genu, tibia and tarsus of Erythraeus adpendiculatus.
Figure 6. Erythraeus adpendiculatus. a) pedipalp; b) Genital apparatus of male.
Eatoniana Cambridge, 1898; Eatoniana pUumffera (Birula, 1893)
Materials examined: Absheron peninsula, Anjirlik, sandy places, 27.V.1984, (4 m*) (collected by Kh. Aliyev). Distribution: The Southern Caucasus; Middle Asia. Turkmenistan (Beron 2008) Eatoniana piumffera species are the indicator of the eol-sand landscape (Figure 7).
Figure 7. Genital apparatus of male of the Estonians plumifera.
Curteria; Curteria episcopaiis (C.L. Koch, 1837)
Materials examined: Absheron peninsula, Anjirlik, sandy places, 1 adult individual, 27.V.1984 (1 spp.) (collected by Kh. Aliyev); Gakh district, Gashgachay village, middle mountain haw-peanuts forest, plants, 30.VI.2018 (1 larva).
Distribution: Central (Germany, Netherland and Poland) and Northern Europe (Switzerland and Finland); Asia: Iran (Jamshidian et al. 2014 (Figure 8).
Figure 8. General view of the Curteria episcopaiis.
Leptinae, Southcott, 1957; Leptus Latreille, 1796; Leptus siivovi Beron, 1975
Materials examined: Guba district, Jimi village, oak-peanut forest (with Caucasian oak), trunks of tree, 29.VI.990 (1 larva) (collected by O. Aslanov); Guba district, Jimi village, oak forest (with Caucasian oak), plants, 5.VIII.2018 (1 larva); Guba district, Susay village, Gizilaghaj forest, harvestman (Opilio species), 4.VIII.2018 (1 larvae and 2 nymphochrysalis (pup I)); Shabran district, Arablar village, mountainous forest-desert, plants, 9.V.2018 (1 larva); Gobustan region, Chalov village, steppe, grasses, 17.V.2019 (1 larva) (Figure 9).
Figure 9. Leptus siivovi. a) General view of larva; b) Nymphochrysalis.
Distribution: Northern (Norway), Central (Poland, Liechtenstein) and Southern (Bulgaria) Europe; Southern Caucasus (Azerbaijan); Asia: South-Eastern Kazakhstan (Aslanov 2015; Beron 2008).
Leptus clethrionomydis Haitlinger, 1987
Materials examined: Zagatala district, ether-oil sovkhoz plant, tea plantation, tea bush, 12.VIII.2017 (1 larva).
Distribution: Central Europe: Poland (Clethrionomys glareolusda) was found in European striped field mouse), Hungary; Southern
Caucasus: Azerbaijan (Aslanov and Alizade 2018; Beron 2008).
Leptus molochinus (C.L. Koch, 1837)
Materials examined: Khachmaz district, Murshudoba village, fruit garden, on the foot of harvestman, 15.VIII.1985 (1larva) (collected by Z. Musayeva); Guba district, Ispik village, peanut forest, moss, 5.VIII.2018 (1 larva); Guba district, Uzunmeshe village, alder forest (with grey alder tree), plants, 4.VIII.2018 (1 larva); Siyazan region, Galaalti village, oak forest (with Georgian oak trees), plants, 25.V.2019 (1 larva).
Distribution: Europe; Caucasus: Azerbaijan; Northern America: USA, Greenland Island (Beron 2008) (Figure 10).
Figure 10. Scutum of the larva of the Leptus molochinus. Leptus longipilis (Berlese, 1910)
Materials examined: Zagatala district, Parzivan village, mountain broad-leaved forest, floor, II.1986 (1 spp.) (collected by I. Kulagina).
Distribution: Central (Poland and Hungary) and Southern (Italy) Europe; Southern Caucasus (Azerbaijan) (Beron, 2008) Comments: Leptus longipilis species are an indicator of the landscape of broad-leaved forests of the mountain-forest zone and low-mountains
Leptus rubricatus (C.L. Koch, 1837)
Materials examined: Zagatala district, Parzivan village, mountain broad-leaved forest, II.1986 (1 spp.) (collected by I. Kulagina); Zagatala district, Parzivan village, mountain broad-leaved forest, floor, IV.1986 (1 spp.) (collected by i.Kulagina); Gakh district, Ilisu village, broad-leaved forest, under the stones, 5.V.2013 (1 spp.) (collected by O.Aslanov); Balakan district, Zagatala preserve, mountain broad-leaved forest, soil decoy, 2.V.2015 (1 spp.) (collected by N.Sneqovaya) (Figure 11). Distribution: Europe; Caucasus: Azerbaijan (Beron 2008)
Figure 11. General view of the Leptus rubricatus.
Callidosomatinae; Charletonia; Charletonia giobigera (Berlese, 1885) Materials examined
Lankaran district, in the forest floor, IX.1984 (2 spp.) (collected by Kh. Aliyev). Siyazan district, Zarat settlement, Gangiz desert, 26.V.2017 (9 spp.); Khizi district, Garabulagchay, slippery fields, plants, 26.VIII.2017 (2 spp.); Khizi district, Bakishli village, thorn shiblyak, thorn, 26.VIII.2017 (2 spp.) ; Shabran district, Arablar village, forest-steppe, plants, 8.V.2018 (1 f*); Siyazan district, Beshbarmaq mountain, shoranga desert, shoranga, 15.IX.2018 (8 spp.); Khizi district, Bakhishli village, arid spruce forest consisting of dwarf pear trees, a dwarf pear, 1.VI.2018 (1 sp.); Ismayilli district, Tirjan village, birch-oak forest (with marvellous birch), 2.IX.2018 (5 spp.); Gakh district, Lakit village, oak forest (with Georgian oak tree), plants, 29.VI.2018 (1 f*); Zagatala district, Jar village, hornbeam forest, plants, 30.VI.2018 (1 sp.). Distribution: Europe; Southern Caucasus (Azerbaijan) (Beron 2008)
Charletonia cardinalis, Pallas 1772
Materials examined: Siyazan district, Beshbarmaq Mountain, shoranga desert, shoranga, 15.IX.2018 (1 sp.); Babak district, Garachuq village, inside the wheat, (2 larvae) (collected by E.Abdullayeva); Sabirabad district, over the striped bee, VI.1972 (5 larvae) (collected by Sokolova).
Distribution: is cosmopolit species (Haitlinger 1987) (Figure 12).
Figure 12. Charletonia cardinaiis. a) Dorsal opistosomal setae of adult; b) Larva's gnatosom. Abrolophinae; Abrolophus; Abrolophus artemisiae (Schrank, 1803)
Materials examined: Absheron peninsula, Baku city, artificial-forest massive, floor of the pine tree, 31.V.1986 (1 sp.) (collected by O. Aslanov).
Distribution: Europe; Southern Caucasus (Azerbaijan) (Beron 2008) Abrolophus miniatus (Hermann, 1804)
Materials examined: Khizi district, Garabulagchay, slippery fields, plants, 26.VIH.2017 (1 f*); Khizi district, Bakhishli village, thorn shiblyak, thorn, 26.VIII.2017 (3 spp.); Khizi district, Bakhishli village, oak forest (with Georgian oak tree), plants, 1.VI.2018 (1 sp.); Gakh district, Saribash village, field-bush, plants, 29.VI.2018 (1 sp.); Gakh district, Gashgachay village, hornbeam-beech forest, plants, 30.VI.2018 (2 f*); Guba district, Uzunmeshe village, alder-hornbeam forest, plants, 4.VIII.2018 (1 sp.); Guba district, Ispik village, beech forest, moss, 5.VIII.2018 (1 f*); Khizi district, Aladash chain, forest-steppe, plants, 15.IX.2018 (1 f*); Gabala district, Gamarvan village, hornbeam forest, plants, 30.IX.2018 (1 sp.).
Distribution: Europe; Caucasus: Azerbaijan; North-Western Africa (Algeria); Greenland Island (Beron 2008) Abrolophus crassitarsus (Schweizer, 1951)
Materials examined: Zagatala district, ether-oil sovkhoz-plant, tea plantation, tea bush, 12.VIII.2017 (1 sp.); Khizi district, Bakhishli village, oak forest (with Georgian oak tree), grasses, 26.VIII.2017 (1 sp.); Khizi district, Bakhishli village, oak forest, plants, 26.VIII.2017 (1 m*); Khizi district, Bakhishli village, palid forest, tree corona, 26.VIII.2017 (5 spp.); Khachmaz district, Lajat village, plain forest, plants, 9.V.2018 (3 spp.); Khizi district, Bakhishli village, arid spruce forest (with dwarf pear trees), 1.VI.2018 (2 spp.); Gakh district, Saribash village, field-bush, 29.VI.2018 (1 sp.); Guba district, Jimi village, oak forest (with eastern oak), plants, 5.VIII.2018 (5 spp.); Ismayilli district, Lahij village, forest, plants, 2.IX.2018 (3 spp.); Ismayilli district, Basgal village, hornbeam forest, plants, 2.IX.2018 (2 spp.); Ismayilli district, Lahij village, forest, plants, 2.IX.2018 (3 spp.); Shabran district, Arablar village, semi-desert, plants, 25.V.2019 (2 spp.); Shamakhi district, Dadagunash village, oak forest (with Georgian oak tree), plants, 17.V.2019 (11 spp.); Shamakhi district, Chukhuryurd village, arid spruce forest (consisting of dwarf pear), plants, 17.VI.2019 (2 spp.).
Distribution: Central Europe; Southern Caucasus (Azerbaijan) (Beron 2008) (Figure 13).
Figure 13. Anus of the Abrolophus crassitarsus. Abrolophus rhopalicus (C.L. Koch, 1837)
Materials examined: Shamakhi district, Chukhuryurd village, field-steppe, plants, 15.V.2018 (3 f*).
Distribution: Europe; Southern Caucasus (Azerbaijan) (Beron 2008).
Comments: Abrolophus rhopalicus is an indicator of mountain forest-steppe landscape.
Abrolophus passerinii (Berlese, 1904)
Materials examined: Absheron district, Jeyranbatan settlement, artificial forest massive, mint, 20.VI.1985 (1 sp.) (collected O. Aslanov); Khizi district, Altiaghac settlement, forest, grass, 26.V.2011 (1 sp., 3 larvae) (collected by O.Aslanov). Distribution: Ireland Island, Central (Poland) and Southern (Italy) Europe; Southern Caucasus (Azerbaijan) (Beron, 2008)
Abrolophus strojnyi Gabrys, 1992
Materials examined: Khizi district, Yarimja village, oak forest (with Georgian oak tree), plants, 20.VI.2012 (1 sp.) (collected by O. Aslanov); Gakh district, Ilisu village, juniper-keeping, juniper, 5.V.2013 (3 spp.) (collected by O. Aslanov); Zagatala district, Jar village, hornbeam forest, plants, 30.VI.2018 (4 spp.).
Distribution: Central Europe (Poland), Hungary; Southern Caucasus (Azerbaijan) (Beron 2008). Comments: Abrolophus strojnyi is an indicator of montane forest zone (Figure 14).
Figure 14. Crista metopica of the adult of the Abrolophus strojnyi. Abrolophus quisquiliarus (Hermann, 1804)
Materials examined: Absheron peninsula, Baku city, rocks, 10.V.1985 (1 ? ) (collected by O.Aslanov); Khizi district, Bakhishli village, oak forest (with Georgian oak tree), 1.VI.2018 (4 spp.); Khizi district, Bakhishli village, arid spruce forest (consisting of dwarf pear trees), a dwarf pear, 1.VI.2018 (1 sp.). Lerik district, Gosmalian village, under the rocks, 28.VI.1985 (1 sp.) (collected by Kh. Aliyev).
Distribution: Europe; Caucasus: Azerbaijan (Beron 2008)
Comments: Abrolophus quisquiiiarus is an indicator of mountainous-forest zone.
Abrolophus norvegicus (Thor, 1900)
Materials examined: Gusar district, Kuzun village, sub-alp birch forest, Radde birch, 4.VIIL2018 (4 spp.); Ismayilli district, Tirjan village, birch forest (including marvelous birch), plants, 2.IX.2018 (1 sp.). Shamkir district, Ashagi Seyfali village, in the black clover field, 25.VIII.1985 (1 sp.) (collected by O. Aslanov). Distribution: Europe; Caucasus: Azerbaijan (Beron 2008).
Comments: Abrolophus norvegicus species are the effective regulator of the number of the sucking pests of the black clover in the black-clover fields of Shamkir district. Also, these species are an indicator of mountainous-forest zone.
Balaustiinae; Balaustium; Balaustium xerothermicum Gabrys, 2000 Materials examined
Zagatala district, Parzivan village, mountain broad-leaved forest, floor, IV.1986 (2 spp.) (collected by I. Kulagina); Zagatala district, tea plantation, 7.VII.2019 (1 sp.).
Distribution: Central Europe (Poland); Southern Caucasus (Azerbaijan) (Beron 2008) (Figure 15).
Figure 15. Gnathosoma of the Balaustium xerothermicum. Balaustium unidentatum (Tragardh, 1904)
Materials examined: Absheron peninsula, Mardakan settlement, over the pool, 19.V.1985 (6 spp.) (collected by O. Aslanov); Baku city, Garden of the Institute of Zoology of ANAS, Azadirachta indica, 19.V.1988 (1 sp.) (collected by O. Aslanov); Shamakhi district, Chuxuryurd village, forest- steppe, plants, 15.V.2018 (2 spp.) (Figure 16).
Figure 16. Balaustium unidentatum: a) general view; b) urnulae and eyes; c) pedipalp.
Distribution: Central Europe (Poland and Switzerland); Caucasus: Azerbaijan; Greenland Island (Beron 2008)
Comments: Female individuals come into surface massively in order to lay an egg in the second half of May. In addition, at that
time, the surface of soil and rocks are seen dark red.
Neobalaustium Neobalaustium species
Materials examined: Gakh district, Ilisu village, mountain broad-leaved forest, under the rocks, 5.V.2013, (3 spp.) (collected by O.Aslanov); Khizi district, Garabulaqchay, slippery fields, plants, 25.VIII.2017 (2 spp.); Siyazan district, Zarat settlement, shoranga desert, shoranga, 25.VIII.2017 (1 sp.); Siyazan district, Beshbarmaq mountain, Gangiz desert, Gangiz Village 25.VIII.2017 (31 spp.); Shamakhi district, Chuxuryurd village, forest-steppe, plants, 15.V.2018 (2 spp.); Siyazan district, Beshbarmaq mountain, shoranga desert, shoranga, 15.IX.2018 (1 f*); Shabran district, Arablar village, forest-steppe, plants, 25.V.2019 (3 spp., 3 larvae); Siyazan district, Beshbarmaq mountain, arid spruce forest (consisting of dwarf pear trees), over the rocks, 25.V.2019 (5 f*); Gobustan district, Chalov village, steppe, grasses, 17.V.2019 (5 spp.).
Comments: Female individuals come into surface massively in order to lay an egg in the second half of May, and at that time, the surface of soil and rocks are seen dark red. 6 eggs increase in the body of the female individuals at the same time. During our research we investigated distribution of erythraeid mites of the Greater Caucasus by landscape belts (Table 2), by altitudinal zonation (Table 3), by landscapes (Table 4) and by forest biotopes (Table 5), too.
Table 2. Distribution of erythraeid mites of the Greater Caucasus by landscape belts.
Species Landscape belts
A B C D
Erythraeus gorcensis +
Erythraeus opllionoides +
Erythraeus phalangoides +
Erythraeus adpendicuiatus +
Erythraeus regalis + +
Curteria episcopalis + +
Neobalaustium species + + +
Eatonia plumifera +
Leptus rubricatus + +
Leptus iongipiUs +
Leptus sivovi + +
Leptus moiochinus + +
Leptus clethrionomydis +
Abrolophus artemisae +
Abrolophus miniatus + + +
Abrolophus crassitarsus + + +
Abrolophus rhopaiicus +
Abrolophus passerinii + +
Abrolophus strojnyi +
Abrolophus norvegicus + +
Abrolophus quisquiiiarum +
Charietonia giobigera + + +
Charietonia cardinaiis +
Baiaustium xerothermicum +
Baiaustium unidentatum +
Note: A - Subalpine zone; B - Montane forest; C - Alpine meadow; D - Semidesert. Table 3. Distribution of erythraeid mites of the Greater Caucasus by altitudinal zonation.
Species
Erythraeus gorcensis Erythraeus opHionoides Erythraeus phaiangoides Erythraeus adpendicuiatus Erythraeus regaiis Curteria episcopalis Neobalaustium species Eatonia piumifera Leptus rubricatus Leptus iongipiiis Leptus siivovi Leptus moiochinus Leptus ciethrionomydis Abrolophus artemisae Abrolophus miniatus Abrolophus crassitarsus Abrolophus rhopaiicus Abrolophus passerinii Abrolophus strojnyi Abrolophus norvegicus Abrolophus quisquiiiarum Charietonia giobigera Charietonia Cardinaiis Baiaustium xerothermicum Baiaustium unidentatum
Altitudinal zonation
A B C D
+
+
+ +
+
+ + + + + + +
+ + +
+ +
+ +
+ + + + + + + + + +
+ +
+ +
Note: A - Lowland zone (-28-200 m); B - Foothill zone (200-500 m); C - Thermo-mediterranean zone (500-1000 m); D - Mesomediterranean zone (1000-2000 m); E - Super-mediterranean zone (>2000 m)
Table 4. Distribution of erythraeid mites of the Greater Caucasus by landscapes.
Landscapes
The meadow-forest landscape of the super-mediterranean zone
The broadleaf forests and meadow-shrub landscapes after
forest of the mesomediterranean zone
The broadleaf forests of the thermo-mediterranean zone
Forest-steppe landscape of the thermo-mediterranean zone
(partially mesomediterranean zone)
Steppe and phryganoid landscapes
Foothill, partially flatlands and arid sparse forest landscape
Riparian forests of the thermo-mediterranean zone
Subtropic semi-desert landscape_
Number species
r e b m
3
n £
of
8 12
3
2 1 1
4
n
e c r e
a £
32
48
12
8 4 4 16
Number spesific
s pecies r e b m
3
n £
of
n
e c r e
a £
20
E
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
2
8
5
1
4
1
4
Eol-sand landscape of the lowland zone Artificial forests
Agro-landscapes_
2 8 14
6 24 4 16
2 8 14
Table 5. Distribution of erythraeid mites of the Greater Caucasus by forest biotopes.
Number of species
Biotopes The hornbeam forests of thermo-mediterranean zone by numbers 7 by percent 28
The chestnut forests of thermo-mediterranean zone 1 4
The oak forests of thermo-mediterranean zone (with Quercus iberica) 4 16
The maple forests of thermo-mediterranean zone 2 8
The beech and beech-hornbeam forests of mesomediterranean zone 3 12
The oak and oak-beech forests of mesomediterranean zone 2 8
The Alnus forests of mesomediterranean zone (with Alnus incana) 2 8
The birch forests of super-mediterranean zone (with Betula raddeana) 2 8
The Tuqay forests 1 4
Conclusion
25 species of the erythraeid mites belonging to 8 genera of 5 sub-families in the Greater Caucasus region were found. Among them, 1 sub-family (Balaustiinae), 4 genera (Curteria, Erythraeus, Balaustium and Neobalaustium) and 22 genera are new for the Caucasian fauna. 2 sub-families, 2 genera and 1 species are new for the studied field. The most of the species are found as 10 species belonging to 5 genera in Absheron peninsula and 8 species belonging to 6 genera in Gakh district.
Acknowledgments
I express my gratitude to Oktay Aslanov from Institute of Zoology, NAS of Azerbaijan Republic for identification of collected mite species.
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Citation:
Alizade, G.A. (2020). Erythraeid mites (Acariformes: Actinedida: Erythraeidae) of the Greater Caucasus region of Azerbaijan. Ukrainian Journal of Ecology, 10(1), 199-209. I CM ^H This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. License