Exudate droplets incorporated on eggs by Raoiella indica Hirst female during oviposition may avoid the predation of Amblyseius largoensis (Muma).

Raoiella indica Hirst has rapidly and widely spread throughout the New World since 2004, primarily infesting coconut palms and interacting with the predator Amblyseius largoensis (Muma). Although A. largoensis feeds on R. indica at all stages of development, it cannot naturally reduce its population to levels that do not impact the host plant. Raoiella indica possesses dorsal setae that secrete exudates during all post-embryonic developmental stages, and females have a behavior that deliberately deposits droplets on the freshly laid egg, possibly as a defense strategy against predation in vulnerable stages. In this context, we analyzed whether the presence or absence of droplets in R. indica eggs affects predation using A. largoensis as a biological model. Thus, we evaluated whether some biological and behavioral characteristics of A. largoensis could be affected by the consumption of R. indica egg masses washed or unwashed with water. Also, we performed a chemical analysis of the droplets exuded by R. indica and provided a description of the oviposition behavior of R. indica. The predator showed a higher consumption rate and preference for washed eggs. The results suggest that the exudate droplets have defensive functions, which are incorporated by the female onto the egg during oviposition and subsequently during a patrolling behavior, as they lose their effect after being washed with water. Although the droplets do not prevent the predator from feeding, they reduce the number of R. indica eggs consumed without affecting the growth of A. largoensis.

Brevipalpus mites associated with coffee plants (Coffea arabica and C. canephora) in Chiapas, Mexico.

Tenuipalpid mites of the genus Brevipalpus are of significant economic and quarantine importance in agriculture. They can damage and vector phytopathogenic viruses in coffee plantations and other crops. In this study, we focused on: identification of the Brevipalpus species, assessment of the spread of Brevipalpus-associated viruses (CoRSV, CiLV-N, CiLVC and CiLVC2), and mite population fluctuations over the course of 1 year. The study was conducted in coffee plantations in Soconusco, a coffee-producing region in Chiapas, Mexico. The collected mites of the Brevipalpus phoenicis sensu lato species complex (635) were identified as Brevipalpus papayensis (80.2%) and B. yothersi (19.8%) based on morphological and molecular characteristics. Their population abundance was low and there were no indications for virosis. The highest mite abundance was recorded in August-September and the lowest in February-March. An interaction was observed between mite abundance and coffee species in open-growth and shaded cultivation at various altitudes. Brevipalpus papayensis was most abundant in Coffea arabica var. Bourbon, in shaded (80%) growing conditions at an altitude of 1300 m above sea level. In C. canephora (in open-growth cultivation conditions at low altitude), B. yothersi was more abundant than in C. arabica, and as abundant as B. papayensis. We are of the opinion that, at this moment, B. papayensis and B. yothersi do not present risks to the production of coffee for the studied plantations. However, as the coffee-producing regions of Mexico are ecologically diverse, it will be important to continue examining the status of Brevipalpus mite populations in other regions in Mexico.

Pest categorisation of Cenopalpus irani.

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Cenopalpus irani (Trombidiformes: Tenuipalpidae), known as the Iranian false spider mite, following the commodity risk assessment of Malus domestica plants from Türkiye, in which C. irani was identified as a pest of possible concern for the territory of the European Union (EU). The pest is only known to be present in Iran and Türkiye and has not been reported from the EU. The mite primarily feeds on Rosaceae plants but is considered polyphagous. Important crops of the EU that are hosts of C. irani include apples (Malus domestica), pears (Pyrus communis) and figs (Ficus carica). Plants for planting and fruits provide potential pathways for entry into the EU. Host availability and climate suitability in southern EU countries would most probably allow this species to successfully establish and spread. This mite is not listed in Annex II of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. Phytosanitary measures are available to reduce the likelihood of entry and spread of this species into the EU. The mite C. irani satisfies the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for it to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest, although there is a key uncertainty over the likelihood and magnitude of impact.

First Record of Cenopalpus wainsteini [Trombidiformes: Tetranychoidea: Tenuipalpidae] in the Americas and a Description of the Symptoms It Causes on Pines in Peru.

Cenopalpus wainsteini (Livshitz and Mitrofanov, Proceedings Nikitsky Botanic Garden 39:1-72, 1967), a mite species in the family Tenuipalpidae, was discovered on Pinus sylvestris Thumb. in Lima, Peru, and represents the first record of this species in the Americas. Previously, only Cenopalpus pulcher (Canestrini and Fanzago Acari Academia Cientifico Veneto 5:130-142, 1876) and C. officinalis (Papaioannou-Souliotis, Annals Institut Phytopathology Benaki 15:11-27, 1986) have been reported from the Nearctic and Neotropic regions. The current paper describes and illustrates the morphological characters of female, deutonymph, protonymph and includes the first description of the larval stage of the species. Species of C. wainsteini collected in Peru were compared with specimens collected in Italy, as well as with the original description by Livschitz and Mitrofanov of specimens from Ukraine and the re-description of the species by Arabuli and Kvavadze Int J Acarology 39(7): 538-541 (2013) based on specimens collected in Georgia. Furthermore, notes on Cenopalpus lineola (Canestrini and Fanzago 1876) are included since it is frequently associated with C. wainsteini. Severe damage symptoms caused by this flat mite on its host plants were observed and are discussed herein.

A Preliminary Assessment of Amblyseius andersoni (Chant) as a Potential Biocontrol Agent against Phytophagous Mites Occurring on Coniferous Plants.

Development, survival and reproduction of Ambyseius andersoni (Chant), a predatory mite widely distributed in Europe, were assessed on different food items. These included two key pests of ornamental coniferous plants, i.e., Oligonychus ununguis (Jacobi) and Pentamerismus taxi (Haller) and pollen of Pinus sylvestris L. The rationale behind these experiments was to provide a preliminary assessment of the potential of A. andersoni as a biocontrol agent of the above phytophagous arthropods and evaluate pine pollen as an alternative food source for the predator. Under laboratory conditions (23 ± 0.5 °C, 70 ± 10% RH and 16L:8D) A. andersoni was able to feed, develop and reproduce on all tested diets. The shortest development time (egg to female) was obtained when the predator fed on P. taxi (mean = 5.12 d) and the longest was on pine pollen (mean = 6.55 d). The rm value was significantly higher on both tested prey (0.166 on P. taxi and 0.160 on O. ununguis) than on pollen (0.139). Thus, we do not recommend pine pollen for mass rearing of A. andersoni; however, we conclude that pollen may provide sufficient sustenance for the predator population under field conditions when prey are absent. The potential of A. andersoni as a biocontrol agent of O. ununguis and P. taxi is discussed.

Ontogenetic development of chaetotaxy in Tenuipalpidae: a survey with special reference to sexual dimorphism.

In this paper, we provide a comparative survey of ontogenetic development of chaetotaxy in the family Tenuipalpidae, with the aim to compare patterns among species/genera and to discover some general trends. We also want to find gaps within published literature and provide suggestions for future studies. Although we focused on the ontogeny of setal developments, we also reviewed sexual dimorphism in chaetotaxy in the family Tenuipalpidae.

A new species of Phyllotetranychus (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) from Iran.

A new species of the flat mite genus Phyllotetranychus Sayed, 1938 (Acari: Trombidiformes: Tenuipalpidae), P. hadii sp. nov., is described based on the female, male and larval stages, collected from Washingtonia filifera (Arecaceae) in Iran.

The lacewing Ceraeochrysa caligata as a potential biological agent for controlling the red palm mite Raoiella indica.

BACKGROUND: Compared to chemical control, the use of naturally occurring biological agents to control invasive pests is less threatening to the environment and human health. OBJECTIVES: Here, we assessed the ability of immature stages of the lacewing Ceraeochrysa caligata (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) to prey upon different developmental stages of the red palm mite Raoiella indica (Acari: Tenuipalpidae), one of the most destructive invasive pests of palm trees in Neotropical regions. METHODS: Increasing densities of three stages of R. indica (eggs, immature stages, and adult females) were offered to C. caligata in coconut leaf arenas. The immature stages of C. caligata were less than 24 h old and were starved before being transferring to the arenas. The amount of prey consumed was recorded 6 h after releasing the C. caligata. RESULTS: Our results indicated that the ability of C. caligata to feed upon R. indica increased with the larval development of the predator. Higher feeding levels and shorter handling times were recorded for the first and second instars of C. caligata when preying upon the eggs and immature stages of R. indica. Furthermore, C. caligata individuals of different stages exhibited differential functional responses according to prey type (i.e., eggs, immatures, or adult females of R. indica). Ceraeochrysa caligata second instar individuals exhibited a sigmoid increase in consumption rate with increasing prey availability (i.e., a type III functional response) when preying upon immature stages of R. indica. However, when preying upon R. indica adult females, C. caligata second instar individuals exhibited a type II functional response (i.e., an increase in consumption rate with increasing prey availability, before reaching a plateau). Predator individuals of the first and third instar stages exhibited a type II functional response for all prey types. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our findings demonstrate that C. caligata, especially at the second instar stage, has potential as a tool for ecological management of the red palm mite.

Infestation of Raoiella indica Hirst (Trombidiformes: Tenuipalpidae) on Host Plants of High Socio-Economic Importance for Tropical America.

The mite Raoiella indica Hirst was recently introduced into America, where it has shown amazing ability to disseminate and broaden its range of hosts. An experiment was conducted in Cancún, Mexico, to determine infestation levels of this mite on plants recorded as hosts: coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) of cultivars Pacific Tall and Malayan Dwarf, oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) hybrids Deli x Ghana and Deli x Nigeria, Dwarf Giant banana (Musa acuminata, AAA subgroup Cavendish), Horn plantain (M. acuminata x Musa balbisiana, AAB subgroup Plantain), lobster claw (Heliconia bihai), and red ginger (Alpinia purpurata). Nursery plants of these host species or cultivars were artificially infested with R. indica in February 2011. In the four replications of 10 plants, each plant was infested with 200 R. indica specimens, and the numbers of infesting mites were recorded for 6 months. A maximum of 18,000 specimens per plant were observed on coconut Pacific Tall and Malayan Dwarf, followed by lobster claw, with a maximum of 1000 specimens per plant. Infestations were minimal for the remaining plants. Mite numbers on all plants declined naturally during the rainy season. All plant materials sustained overlapping mite generations, indicating that they are true hosts. Complementarily, infestation level was determined in backyard bananas and plantains. Correlations of infestation with plant height, distance from coconuts, and exposure to direct sunlight were estimated. Both bananas and plantains were infested by R. indica even when situated far from infested coconut palms. A Spearman correlation was found between infestation and plant height, although it was significant only for Silk plantain.

Mites (Arachnida: Acari) collected on rubber trees Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex A.Juss.) Müll.Arg. in Santana, Amapá state, Brazil / Ácaros (Arachnida: Acari) coletados em seringueira Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex A. Juss.) Müll. Arg. em Santana, Estado do Amapá, Brasil

The purpose of this study was to elaborate a preliminary list of the mite species associated with rubber trees in the municipality of Santana, in the state of Amapá, Brazil. Two collections of rubber tree leaves were conducted on May 2nd and June 5th , 2010. Twenty-five plants were sampled at random. Three leaves were collected per plant, from the lower third of the crown. The samples were placed in paper bags, packed in an isothermal box chilled gel-based pulp plant (Gelo-X®), and transported to the Entomology Laboratory at Embrapa Amapá, in Macapá. The leaflets were examined under a stereomicroscope, and the mites found on the adaxial and abaxial surfaces of the leaves were collected with a stilet, mounted on microscope slides in Hoyer's medium, and later identified. We collected a total of 1,722 mites of 10 families: Acaridae, Cunaxidae, Eriophyidae, Iolinidae, Phytoseiidae, Stigmaeidae, Tarsonemidae, Tenuipalpidae, Tydeidae, and Winterschmidtiidae, in addition to unidentified species of the suborders Oribatida and Astigmatina. The family Phytoseiidae represented only 2.90% of specimens collected, but showed the highest species richness (5 species). The only representative of Tenuipalpidae was Tenuipalpus heveae Baker, 1945, but 81.13% of the mites collected in this study belonged to this species.

O objetivo deste estudo foi elaborar uma lista preliminar das espécies de ácaros associadas à seringueira, no município de Santana, Estado do Amapá. Foram realizadas duas coletas de folhas de seringueira, nos dias 2 de maio e 5 de junho de 2010. Foram tomadas aleatoriamente 25 plantas, de cada uma das quais foram coletadas três folhas, no terço inferior da copa. As amostras foram acondicionadas em sacos de papel, mantidas em caixa isotérmica refrigerada com gel à base de celulose vegetal (Gelo-X®) e transportadas até o Laboratório de Entomologia da Embrapa Amapá, em Macapá. A triagem dos folíolos foi realizada com o auxílio de estereomicroscópio. Os ácaros encontrados nas faces adaxial e abaxial das folhas foram capturados com um estilete, montados em lâminas de microscopia em meio de Hoyer e, posteriormente, identificados. Foram coletados 1.722 ácaros, pertencentes a dez famílias: Acaridae, Cunaxidae, Eriophyidae, Iolinidae, Phytoseiidae, Stigmaeidae, Tarsonemidae, Tenuipalpidae, Tydeidae e Winterschmidtiidae, além de espécies não identificadas das subordens Oribatida e Astigmatina. A família Phytoseiidae representou apenas 2,90% do total de espécimes coletados, porém apresentou a maior riqueza em espécies (cinco espécies). A família Tenuipalpidae, embora representada apenas por Tenuipalpus heveae Baker, 1945, apresentou o maior número de espécimes capturados (81,13%).

Phytophagous mites (Tetranychoidea: Tetranychidae, Tenuipalpidae) from natural vegetations in Lara, Venezuela / Ácaros fitófagos (Tetranychoidea: Tetranychidae, Tenuipalpidae) de vegetación natural en Lara, Venezuela

Phytophagous mites from natural vegetation have been scarcely studied in Venezuela. Surveys were carried out from March 2007 to November 2008 to determine diversity of phytophagous mites inhabiting in different plant taxa in Iribarren, Jiménez, Palavecino, Morán and Crespo municipalities from Lara state, Venezuela. In each sampling site, a 500 m- transect was established and the most frequent plant species were sampled. In field, 15 leaves were examined for mite presence by using hand lens. In laboratory, plant material was examined under magnification and mite morpho-species belonging to tetranychid and tenuipalpid were picked up. A total of two tenuipalpid species and eight tetranychid species were identified. Tenuipalpid mites identified were Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) on Cassia siamea (Caesalpinaceae), Capparis linearis (Capparidaceae), Spathodea campanulata (Bignoniaceae), Randia sp. (Rubiaceae), Melicoccus bijugatus (Sapindaceae) and Tenuipalpus sp. was collected from Spondias mombin (Anacardiaceae). On the other hand, tetranychid included Tetranychus urticae Koch on Terminalia catappa (Combretaceae), Euphorbia pulcherrima (Euphorbiaceae) and Enterolobium cyclocarpum (Mimosaceae). Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval) on Lycopersicon sp. (Solanaceae), Ipomoea sp., Convolvulus sp. (Convolvulaceae) and Leonotis nepetifolia (Lamiaceae). Tetranychus desertorum Banks on Parthenium hysterophorus (Asteraceae). Eutetranychus banksi (McGregor) on C. siamea, Chlorophora tinctoria (Moraceae), Dalechampia sp. (Euphobiaceae) and Malpighia glabra (Malpighiaceae). Eotetranychus cf. willamettei on Sterculia apetala (Sterculiaceae). Oligonychus biharensis (Hirst) on Clitoria sp. (Papilionaceae) and Ziziphus cyclocardia (Rhamnaceae). Oligonychus sp. on S. campanulata and Neotetranychus gloriosus Estebanes & Baker on Croton sp. (Euphorbiaceae). In this study, B. phoenicis is recorded for the first time on C. siamea, S. campanulata, Randia...

Los ácaros fitófagos de especies vegetales no cultivadas han sido poco estudiados en Venezuela. Desde marzo 2007 hasta noviembre del 2008, se realizaron muestreos para determinar la diversidad de ácaros fitófagos habitantes de diferentes taxa vegetales en los municipios Iribarren, Jiménez, Palavecino, Morán y Crespo en el estado Lara, Venezuela. En cada sitio de muestreo, se trazó una transecta de 500 m de longitud donde fueron muestreadas las plantas más frecuentes. En el campo, 15 hojas fueron examinadas para determinar la presencia de ácaros con el uso de una lupa de mano. En el laboratorio, el material vegetal fue examinado bajo aumento de una lupa estereoscopio para seleccionar las morfo-especies de tetraníquidos y tenuipálpidos. Se identificaron dos especies de Tenuipalpidae y ocho de Tetranychidae. Los ácaros tenuipálpidos identificados fueron Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) sobre Cassia siamea (Caesalpinaceae), Capparis linearis (Capparidaceae), Spathodea campanulata (Bignoniaceae), Randia sp. (Rubiaceae), Melicoccus bijugatus (Sapindaceae) y Tenuipalpus sp. fue colectado sobre Spondias mombin (Anacardiaceae). Por otra parte, las especies de tetraníquidos incluyeron a Tetranychus urticae Koch sobre Terminalia catappa (Combretaceae), Euphorbia pulcherrima (Euphorbiaceae) y Enterolobium cyclocarpum (Mimosaceae). Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval) sobre Lycopersicon sp. (Solanaceae), Ipomoea sp., Convolvulus sp. (Convolvulaceae) y Leonotis nepetifolia (Lamiaceae). Tetranychus desertorum Banks sobre Parthenium hysterophorus (Asteraceae). Eutetranychus banksi (McGregor) sobre C. siamea, Chlorophora tinctoria (Moraceae), Dalechampia sp. (Euphorbiaceae) y Malpighia glabra (Malpighiaceae). Eotetranychus cf. willamettei sobre Sterculia apetala (Sterculiaceae), Oligonychus biharensis (Hirst) sobre Clitoria sp. (Papilionaceae) y Ziziphus cyclocardia (Rhamnaceae). Oligonychus sp. sobre S. campanulata y Neotetranychus gloriosus Estebanes...

Ácaros (Acari) de seringueira (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg., Euphorbiaceae) e de euforbiáceas espontâneas no interior dos cultivos / Mites (Acari) from rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg., Euphorbiaceae) and spontaneous euphorbiaceous in rubber trees cultivation

Foram realizadas coletas trimestrais em 2001 em três cultivos de seringueira no Noroeste do estado de São Paulo. Foram amostradas três seringueiras de cada local. Nas entrelinhas das seringueiras foram coletadas quatro espécies de euforbiáceas espontâneas: Chamaesyce hirta, C. hyssopifolia, Euphorbia heterophylla e Phyllanthus tenellus. Foram coletados 8.954 ácaros de 38 espécies, pertencentes a 31 gêneros de 11 famílias. Tydeidae e Phytoseiidae tiveram maior diversidade de espécies, 9 e 7, respectivamente. As famílias mais abundantes foram Eriophyidae (3.594), Tydeidae (2.825) e Tenuipalpidae (1.027). As espécies mais abundantes nas seringueiras foram: fitófagas - Calacarus heveae Feres, Tenuipalpus heveae Baker, Lorryia sp.2, Lorryia formosa Cooreman e Lorryia sp.1; predadoras - Zetzellia quasagistemas Hernandes & Feres, Pronematus sp., Iphiseiodes zuluagai Denmark & Muma e Euseius citrifolius Denmark & Muma. Entre as euforbiáceas espontâneas, encontrou-se maior abundância de ácaros predadores em C. hirta e E. heterophylla, destacando-se Pronematus sp. e E. citrifolius, sugerindo que estas plantas possam ser importantes na manutenção daqueles predadores nos plantios de seringueira. No entanto, plantas que podem abrigar predadores, mas que também exercem forte competição (nutrientes, água etc.) com a seringueira, não podem ser sugeridas para um programa de manejo de pragas. Estudos sobre competição entre a seringueira e plantas espontâneas precisam ser conduzidos para viabilizar programas eficientes de manejo ambiental, visando o controle dos ácaros-praga da seringueira.

Quarterly samples were done in 2001 on three rubber tree plantation in the northwest of the state of São Paulo. Three rubber trees of each locality were sampled. Between the rows of rubber tree four species of spontaneous euphorbiaceous were collected: Chamaesyce hirta, C. hyssopifolia, Euphorbia heterophylla and Phyllanthus tenellus. A total of 8.954 mites of 38 species, belonging to 31 genera of 11 families were collected. Tydeidae and Phytoseiidae had the highest diversity of species, 9 and 7, respectively. The most abundant families were Eriophyidae (3.594), Tydeidae (2.825) and Tenuipalpidae (1.027). The most abundant species on the rubber trees were: phytophagous - Calacarus heveae Feres, Tenuipalpus heveae Baker, Lorryia sp.2, Lorryia formosa Cooreman and Lorryia sp.1; predators - Zetzellia quasagistemas Hernandes & Feres, Pronematus sp., Iphiseiodes zuluagai Denmark & Muma and Euseius citrifolius Denmark & Muma. Among the spontaneous euphorbiaceous, predatory mites were abundantly found on C. hirta and E. heterophylla, mainly Pronematus sp. and E. citrifolius, suggesting that these plants could be important in the maintenance of these predators in the rubber tree cultivation areas. However, plants that can shelter predators and at the same time exert strong competition (nutrients, water etc) to rubber trees, can not be recommended for pest management programs. Studies about competition between rubber trees and spontaneous plants need to be conducted for feasible efficient programs of environmental management, aiming at the control of pest mites of rubber tree.