Seasonal fluctuation of microarthropods in grazed and ungrazed pastures, in Ioannina prefecture, Greece

The study of the seasonal fluctuation of the most characteristic acarine taxa found on grazed and ungrazed pastures in Ioannina prefecture, Epirus, Greece during the period April 1997-March 1998 showed the following: Tyrophagus longior reached highest population densities during winter especially on the ungrazed pasture. Immature stages of Cryptostigmata showed higher population densities in August on both pastures with higher number on the grazed one. Zygoribatula sp. showed higher population during winter while the rest of Oribatuloidea during the end of the summer. Tarsonemus nr lacustris reached highest densities in June for the ungrazed pasture, while high numbers for the grazed one occurred in November.