Invertebrate infestation in green turtle ( Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758)) and loggerhead turtle ( Caretta caretta (Linnaeus, 1758)) nests on Alata Beach, Mersin, Turkey

Abstract

Invertebrate infestation in sea turtle nests ( Caretta carettaandChelonia mydas ) was recorded for the first time for Alatabeach, Mersin, Turkey. A total of 121 green and 32 loggerhead nests were recorded and 34 (22.22%) of these were examined in termsof the invertebrate faunal composition. The specimens found in the nests were identified to order, family, or genus levels and they wererepresented as 5 orders. These invertebrate groups arePimeliasp. larvae (Tenebrionidae; Coleoptera),Elatersp. larvae (Elateridae;Coleoptera), Scarabaeidae larvae (Coleoptera), Muscidae (Diptera), Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta), Myrmeleontidae (Neuroptera), andCyrptostigmata (Acari).