Leprosis mite and other mite species (Acari) associated to orange groves in Brazilian Central Amazon

Abstract

The citrus leprosis mite, Brevipalpus yothersi Baker, is not considered to cause major damage to orange trees in the Brazilian Amazonas state. However, little is known about the diversity of plant mites and about mite damage to plants in this state of northern Brazil. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the level of occurrence of the leprosis mite in this region and the diversity and prevailing population levels of associated mites in unsprayed orange groves of the surroundings of Manaus, Amazonas state. In total, 1,614 mites were collected on citrus trees (616 of eminently predatory groups, 541 of eminently phytophagous groups and 457 of other groups). On plants growing spontaneously in orange groves, 514 mites were collected (270 of eminently predatory groups, 26 of eminently phytophagous groups and 218 of other groups). Most predators collected (638 specimens) belonged to Phytoseiidae, representing 14 species. The most abundant phytoseiids were Amblyseius aerialis Muma and Iphiseiodes zuluagai Denmark & Muma. Only 197 B. yothersi were collected, on leaves of orange, Lantana camara L. and Solanum paniculatum L.. Leprosis symptoms were not observed, and this may be related to the relatively low densities of the leprosis mite. The plant species Borreria verticillata (L.), Clidenia hirta (L.), L. camara, Paspalum virgatum L. and S. paniculatum are reservoirs of two abundant predatory mites of orange trees, A. aerialis and I. zuluagai.

Geographical Distribution of Schizotetranychus hindustanicus and Associated Mites in Roraima, Brazil

“…Amblyseius aerialis has been reported in the Amazon region in association with Citrus sp. in the states of Amapá (Mineiro et al 2009) and Amazonas (Bobot et al 2011;Ferreira et al 2018). This predator has also been found on other plants in the Amazon, such as Hevea spp.…”

“…in the states of Acre, Amazonas, and Rondônia (Nuvoloni et (Demite et al 2018). In Amazonas, A. aerialis was reported as the most abundant predator with potential for control of the leprosy mite, B. yothersi (Ferreira et al 2018). This phytoseiid, with E. concordis and I. zuluagai, may also be potential candidates for the biological control of S. hindustanicus, and complementary studies should be conducted to assess its predatory impact on this pest.…”

Effect of pollen of different plant species on the oviposition of two phytoseiid mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) commonly found in citrus orchards in the Brazilian Amazonia

“…In a study conducted in Manaus region, of the Brazilian Amazonia, Bobot et al (2011) reported ten species of phytophagous mites from citrus plants, belonging to the families Eriophyidae, Tenuipalpidae and Tetranychidae. In a more recent study conducted in the same region, six species of phytophagous mites were reported by Ferreira et al (2018), all of which also reported by Bobot et al (2011).…”

“…Several species of predatory mites were collected in the study conducted by Ferreira et al (2018), including eight phytoseiid species. The most numerous species were Amblyseius aerialis Muma and Iphiseiodes zuluagai Denmark & Muma, corroborating the results of Bobot et al (2011).…”

<p class="Body"><strong>A new species of <em>Armascirus</em> and description of the male of <em>Scutopalus tomentosus</em> from Brazil (Acari: Cunaxidae)</strong></p><p class="Body"> </p>

“…To date, the only cunaxid species reported from the Amazonic biome is A. huyssteeni (Ferreira, Krug, Garcia & Moraes, 2018). This paper presents the first survey of cunaxids from the Amazonic biome and describes the male of Scutopalus tomentosus and a new species of Armascirus collected from Cocos nucifera from the state of Pará, Brazil.…”