Studies on predacious mites of the families Phytoseiidae, Cunaxidae and Stigmaeidae associated with natural pastures in Greece

Κnowledge on the mites associated with natural pastures in Greece is νery limited and concern the record of a
few cosmopolitan species. The present study deals with predacious mites which belong to the families Phytoseiidae, Cunaxidae and Stigrnaeidae and were found in natural pastures at various regions in Greece. Samples taken ftom pastures (grass and broad-leaved) and cultivated fodder plants (mainly Medicago sativa), showed the presence of 13 species belonging to the family Phytoseiidae, 4 to the family Cunaxidae and 13 to the family Stigmaeidae. Phytoseiid species belong to the genera Amblyseius (10 species) and Typhlodromus (3 species) among which 6 are widespread in Greece namely: Α. obtusus, Α . graminis, Α. bicaudus, Α. barkeri, Τ rhenanus and T. recki Cunaxid species belong to 3 genera: Cunaxa (2 species ), Cunaxoides (1 species) and Pulaι:us (1 species) among which 2 are widespread in Greece namely: Cunaxa capreolus and Cunaxoides croceus. Stigmaeid species belong to 9 genera: Agistemus (1 species), Eryngiopus (1 species), Eustigmaeus (3 species), Ledermuelleriopsis (1 species), Mediolata (1 species), Postumius (1 species), Stigmaeus (3 species), Storchia (1 species) and Zetzellia (1 species). From the aforementioned species, 12 are new records for Greece while 2 are new to science. Host and distribution data for each species are given.