PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON ACARI OF THE PEACH TREE IN TUSCANY

Three experimental peach orchards situated in Tuscany (in Maremma and close to Florence) were observed for two consecutive years. The orchards differed in cultivar, period of ripening of the fruit, cultural (open field and protected cultivation) and control practices. According to established methods, samples of twigs and leaves were taken to determine the species of Acari and their behaviour.

The following phytophagous mites were found: two species of Eriophyoidea, three of Tetranychidae and occasional specimens of one species of Tenuipalpidae. The predaceous mites were: various species of Phytoseiidae, and few specimens of one species of Stigmaeidae. Of the groups with non-specialised feeding habits different species of Tydeidae and of Tarsonemidae were collected.

The relationship between the different groups of Acari is shown and correlated with the different cultural conditions of the peach orchards under consideration.