S. Mahunka szerk.: Folia Entomologica Hungarica 58. (Budapest, 1997)

ROVARTANI KÖZLEMÉNYEK LVIII 1997 pp. 35-43 Data to the fauna of predaceous mites of Hungary with the description of four new species (Acari: Phytoseiidae) J. Bozai Data to the fauna of predaceous mites of Hungary with the description of four new species (Acari: Phytoseiidae) - Over 30 years the author collected a large number of predatory mites from leaf samples of wild and cultivated plants. He identified 50 species belonging to the subfamily of Phytoseiinae (family Phytoseiidae) of which 14 were new to the fauna of Hungary and 4 are new to science. All predaceous mites play a significant role in decreasing the individual density of phytophagous mites. In biotopes free from insecticides or acaricides their ratio (predatory versus phytophagous) was 1:1, while in treated areas the participation of predaceous mites dropped to an insignificant level. One species (Phytoseiulus persimilis) appears in masses in glasshouses and is applied as a biological control agent against the common two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae). Under field conditions the species Amblyseius finlandicus proved to be most common; other species, like Kampimodromns aberrans, Amblyseius andersoni, A. reductus, Typhloctonus tiliarum, Paraseiulus soleiger and Phytoseius macropilis are also frequently found. INTRODUCTION The study of the fauna of predatory mites has been dealt with only by a few experts and vety occasionally in Hungary. Special literature data are scarce. Kropczynska and Jenser (1968) published the first authentic data of 8 species belonging to the family Phytoseiidae. Sz.-Komlóvszky (1980) added 11 species to the fauna of Hungary. Bozai published 28 species in 1987 and established the presence of further three Amblyseius species in 1994. MATERIALS AND METHODS The leaf samples of soft- and woody stemmed plants were collected from different parts of the country, mainly from Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok, Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg, Veszprém and Zala counties and from the area of Budapest between 1973 and 1995. The mite specimens were extracted into Oudeman's fluid by a modified Berlese funnel and total permanent preparations were made. The mite species were determined by using the keys of Chant (1959), Livsithz and Kuznetzov (1972), Kolodochka (1978) and Bozai (1978).