title: Predation of entomopathogenic nematodes by Sancassania sp. (Acari: Acaridae).
abstract: Predation of the entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema feltiae (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), by Sancassania sp. (Acari: Acaridae) isolated from field-collected scarab larvae was examined under laboratory conditions. Adult female mites consumed more than 80% of the infective juvenile (IJ) stage of S. feltiae within 24 h. When S. feltiae IJs were exposed to the mites for 24 h and then exposed to Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae, the number of nematodes penetrating into the larvae was significantly lower compared to S. feltiae IJs that were not exposed to mites (control). Soil type significantly affected the predation rate of IJs by the mites. Mites preyed more on nematodes in sandy soil than in loamy soil. We also observed that the mites consumed more S. feltiae IJs than Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae). No phoretic relationship was observed between mites and nematodes and the nematodes did not infect the mites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karagoz
authors.forename: Baris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gulcu
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cakmak
authors.forename: Harry K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Selcuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hazir
mesh_terms: D040041:Acaridae / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000469:parasitology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D007814:Larva / Q000469:parasitology; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D011235:Predatory Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D017172:Rhabditoidea / Q000502:physiology*; D012987:Soil / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D012987:Soil