Re-descriptions of Neoseiulus reductus (Wainstein) and Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) caucasicus (Abbasova) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from Turkey

Two predatory mite species, Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) caucasicus (Abbasova) and Neoseiulus reductus (Wainstein) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) are re-described and illustrated, based on specimens collected from strawberry plants on Gökal Plateau at 1450 meters above sea level in Tokat Province, Turkey. Typhlodromus (A.) caucasicus is a new record for the Turkish mite fauna. In addition, our examination revealed that N. reductus has a reticulated dorsal shield, as opposed to a smooth dorsal shield in its original description and in some re-descriptions. Apparently, the reticulation on the dorsal shield was not taken into consideration in some of the previous descriptions. Furthermore, this species may have been reported as N. cucumeris (Oudemans) in some previous studies from Turkey. The relative length of peritremes and the shape of pre-anal solenotomes are among the differences between N. reductus and N. cucumeris. The re-descriptions provided in this study are important for the further diagnosis of N. reductus and T. (A.) caucasicus.