ABSTRACT
The coconut mite, Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae), is one of the main coconut pests in the American, African and parts of the Asian continents, reaching densities of several thousand mites per fruit. Diagrammatic scales have been developed to standardize the estimation of the population densities of A. guerreronis according to the estimated percentage of damage, but these have not taken into account the possible effect of fruit age, although previous studies have already reported the variation in mite numbers with fruit age. The objective of this study was to re-construct the relation between damage and mite density at different fruit ages collected in an urban coconut plantation containing the green dwarf variety ranging from the beginning to nearly the end of the infestation, as regularly seen under field conditions in northeast Brazil, in order to improve future estimates with diagrammatic scales. The percentage of damage was estimated with two diagrammatic scales on a total of 470 fruits from 1 to 5 months old, from a field at Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil, determining the respective number of mites on each fruit. The results suggested that in estimates with diagrammatic scales: (1) fruit age has a major effect on the estimation of A. guerreronis densities, (2) fruits of different ages should be analyzed separately, and (3) regular evaluation of infestation levels should be done preferably on fruits of about 3-4 months old, which show the highest densities.
Subject(s)
Cocos/physiology , Food Chain , Herbivory , Mites/physiology , Animals , Brazil , Fruit/physiology , Population DensityABSTRACT
Twenty-four papers refer to phytoseiid mites from different plant species in the state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil, but none of those refer to taxonomic surveys on ornamental plants. The aim of this study was to determine phytoseiids from tropical ornamentals in the southern coastal region of Bahia state, as well as to present a checklist and an identification key to the species recorded in that state. Samples were collected at eight localities of five municipalities. A total of seventeen species in nine genera was found on fifteen plant species of the families Costaceae, Heliconiaceae, Musaceae and Zingiberaceae. The most frequent and abundant phytoseiid species were Iphiseiodes metapodalis (El-Banhawy), Amblyseius operculatus De Leon and Iphiseiodes zuluagai Denmark & Muma, respectively. The checklist and the identification key to the Phytoseiidae species of Bahia were prepared based on the published literature.
Subject(s)
Mites , Animals , Asteraceae , BrazilABSTRACT
During a survey of predatory mites on cocoa cropping areas in Bahia State, north-eastern Brazil, three undescribed species of Phytoseiidae were collected on natural vegetation associated with crops. Typhlodromips baculiductus n. sp., Graminaseius bahiensis n. sp. and Typhlodromalus annulatus n. sp. are described and diagnosed. Comments on the boundary between the genera Amblydromalus Chant & McMurtry and Typhlodromalus Muma are also included.
Subject(s)
Mites , Animal Distribution , Animals , Asteraceae , Brazil , Chocolate , Crops, AgriculturalABSTRACT
The cultivation of tropical fruit trees has grown considerably in the state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil. Some of these have been severely attacked by phytophagous mites, which are usually controlled by the use of chemical pesticides. However, there is today a growing interest for the adoption of less aggressive measures of pest control, as for example the use of predatory mites. Most of the plant-inhabiting predatory mites belong to the family Phytoseiidae. The objective of this paper is to report the phytoseiid species found in an intensive survey conducted on cultivated tropical fruit trees in fifteen localities of the southern coast of Bahia. Measurements of relevant morphological characters are provided for each species, to complement the understanding of the morphological variation of these species. Twenty-nine species of sixteen genera were identified. A key was elaborated to assist in the separation of these species. Fifteen species are reported for the first time in the state, raising to sixty-six the number of species of this family now known from Bahia. Seventy-two percent of the species collected belong to Amblyseiinae, followed by Typhlodrominae (21%) and Phytoseiinae (7%). The most diverse genus was Amblyseius. Amblyseius operculatus De Leon was the most frequent and abundant species. Studies should be conducted to evaluate the possible role of the most common predators as control agents of the phytophagous mites co-occurring with them.
ABSTRACT
O presente estudo foi realizado na "Estação Ecológica de Paulo de Faria", região norte do estado de São Paulo, Brasil, visando conhecer a biodiversidade de ácaros associados a plantas em fragmentos de mata estacional semidecidual nativa. Cento e vinte e três espécies das subordens Gamasida, Actinedida, Acaridida e Oribatida (35 identificadas nominalmente), pertencentes a 78 gêneros de 25 famílias, foram coletadas sobre 18 espécies vegetais. As espécies mais freqüentes foram Euseius concordis (Chant) e Iphiseiodes zuluagai Denmark & Muma (Phytoseiidae), encontradas sobre oito e seis espécies vegetais, respectivamente. A maior riqueza de espécies foi observada em Psicotria cartagenensis (oito espécies), Cecropia pachystachya (sete espécies), Guarea kunthiana e Jacaratia spinosa (seis espécies).
This study was conducted in the "Estação Ecológica de Paulo de Faria", northern region of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, to determine the biodiversity of plant inhabiting mites in patches of native semideciduous forest. One hundred twenty three species of the suborders Gamasida, Actinedida, Acaridida and Oribatida (35 nominally identified), belonging to 78 genera in 25 families, were collected on 18 plant species. The most frequent species were Euseius concordis (Chant) and Iphiseiodes zuluagai Denmark & Muma, found on eight and six plant species, respectively. The largest richness was observed in Psicotria cartagenensis (eight species), Cecropia pachystachya (seven species), Guarea kunthiana and Jacaratia spinosa (six species).
ABSTRACT
O presente estudo foi realizado na "Estação Ecológica do Noroeste Paulista", localizada na região de São José do Rio Preto, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, visando determinar espécies acarinas plantícolas associadas a fragmentos de mata nativa. Foram determinadas 83 espécies, pertencentes a 48 gêneros de 20 famílias, associadas a mais de 60 espécies vegetais. Trinta e oito espécies acarinas foram identificadas nominalmente. As mais freqüentes foram Tetranychus ludeni (Zacher, 1913) (Tetranychidae) e Iphiseiodes zuluagai (Denmark & Muma, 1972) (Phytoseiidae), coletadas sobre 15 e 14 espécies de plantas, respectivamente. A maior diversidade foi observada em Piper sp. (Piperaceae) (21 espécies acarinas), seguida de Luehea speciosa Willd. (Tiliaceae) (17), Alchornea glandulosa Poepp. & Endl. (Euphorbiaceae) (16), Bauhinia rufa (Bong.) Steud (Caesalpinaceae) (14) e Olyra sp. (Poaceae) (12).
This study was conducted in the "Estação Ecológica do Noroeste Paulista", located in the region of São José do Rio Preto, State of São Paulo, Brazil, to determine plant inhabiting mite species in patches of native forest. Eighty three mite species belonging to 48 genera in 20 families were collected on more than 60 plant species. Thirty eight mite species were nominally identified. The most frequent were Tetranychus ludeni (Zacher, 1913) (Tetranychidae) and Iphiseiodes zuluagai (Denmarkyv & Muma, 1972) (Phytoseiidae), collected on 15 and 14 plants species, respectively. The largest diversity was observed on Piper sp. (Piperaceae) (21 mite species), Luehea speciosa Willd. (Tiliaceae (17), Alchornea glandulosa Poepp. & Endl. (Euphorbiaceae) (16), Bauhinia rufa (Bong.) Steud (Caesalpinaceae) (14) e Olyra sp. (Poaceae)(12).
