Abstract

ABATO-ZARATE, Marycruz et al. Acarofauna associated to papaya orchards in Veracruz, Mexico. Acta Zool. Mex [online]. 2014, vol.30, n.3, pp.595-609. ISSN 2448-8445.

Mexican agriculturists have recently noticed strong increases of mite infestations in papaya (Carica papaya L. 1753) orchards. A list of mite species associated with papaya leaves was constructed to determine the species responsible for high infestations and to identify predaceous mites as potential biological control agents. Mites were collected from three foliage strata (high, middle and low), in seven municipalities of central Veracruz State. Leaves were processed by washing and sieving. Identified species included four tetranychids: Eotetranychus lewisi (McGregor 1943), Eutetranychus banksi (McGregor 1914), Tetranychus merganser Boudreaux 1954, and Tetranychus urticae Koch 1836; as well as three phytoseiids: Euseius hibisci (Chant 1959), Galendromus helveolus (Chant 1959) and Phytoseiulus macropilis (Banks 1905), with the first two species being the most abundant. The vagrant eriophyid Calacarus citrifolii Keifer 1955 was collected in three municipalities, in the low stratum. Neither the broad mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks 1904), nor the carmine spider mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval 1867), were collected, although these species were previously recorded from this area. None of the Phytoseiid species found can be considered a recently established species; their potential as biological control agents is discussed.

Keywords : Carica papaya; Phytoseiidae; Tetranychidae; Eriophyidae.