Mite Fauna in Dried Fruits and Nuts in West Azerbaijan Province

 The production of dried fruits and nuts that are free of any pests increases their economic value. In the present study, mite fauna of dried fruits and nuts were investigated in West Azerbaijan province and 135 samples were collected from 12 types of products of dried fruits and nuts, namely pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, hazelnut, almond, apricot, plum, walnut, currant, dried berries, raisin, tonic, and cherry from stores located in nine cities. Hoyer’s medium was used for microscope fixed slide and the specimens were then identified. A total of 17 species, 16 genera, and 11 families of the three orders of Sarcoptiformes, Trombidiformes, and Mesostigmata was identified. The number of mites per kilo of the sample ranged from zero to 302 and in 85% of samples, this number was less than 52 per kilo. The highest abundance of pest and predatory mites was recorded for Lepidoglyphus destructor (40.41%) and Blattisocius tarsalis (30.81%). About 63% of dried fruit and nut samples were contaminated with mites and the highest number of mites was found in pumpkin and sunflower seeds. In the following list, genus and species marked with * are new registrations for the mite fauna of West Azerbaijan Province: Sarcoptiformes, Acaridae: Acarus siro; Aleuroglyphus ovatus; Caloglyphus berlesei*; Tyrophagus putrescentiae; Rhizoglyphus echinopus*;Glycyphagidae, Lepidoglyphus destructor; Trombidiformes, Cheyletidae: Acaropsellina sollers; Cheyletus malaccensis;Stigmaeidae: Agistemus sp. Erythraeidae: Erythraeus (Erythraeus) garmsaricus*; Erythraeus (Zaracarus) rajabii*; Smarididae: Smaris sp*. Tydeidae: Tydeus sp.*,Pyemotidae: Pyemotes herfsi *(Oudemans, 1936) Mesostigmata, Laelapidae: Androlaelaps casalis casalis*; Blattisociidae: Blattisocius tarsalis*; Ameroseiidae: Kleemannia plumosa*.