Arthropods associated with the lychee erinose mite, Aceria litchii (Acari: Eriophyidae) on lychee trees in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Abstract

Lychee fruit production (Litchi chinensis) has been threatened in many regions of the world where the presence has been reported of the litchii erinose mite, Aceria litchii (Keifer). This study aims to identify the arthropod community associated with A. litchii on lychee plants in Minas Gerais, Brazil, and to seek for potential natural enemies associated with this mite pest in this region. We sampled lychee leaves infested with A. litchii in commercial and non-commercial lychee orchards during seven consecutive months, covering the dry and wet seasons of the year. Arthropods found in association with A. litchii on lychee leaves were collected and identified. The results indicate that a great diversity and abundance of mites and hexapods are associated with A. litchii. A total of 985 and 1872 specimens of mites were identified in commercial and non-commercial areas, respectively, belonging to the families Cheyletidae, Cunaxidae, Eupodidae, Iolinidae, Stigmaeidae, Phytoseiidae, Tarsonemidae, Tenuipalpidae, Tetranychidae, Tryophtydeidae, Tuckerellidae, Tydeidae, Winterschmidtiidae and Xenocaligonellidae and the suborder Oribatida. Among them, Phytoseiidae was the most abundant and diverse family with a total of 11 species identified, in which Phytoseius intermedius was the most abundant predatory mite species collected. Minor specimens of hexapods were also been, belonging to the orders Collembola, Blattodea, Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Psocoptera and Thysanoptera. The presence of a high community of predatory mites in association with A. litchii deserves attention and our results indicate that studies to test the potential of these species and the adoption of management practices that enhance this ecological service must be carried out to achieve satisfactory control of the lychee erinose mite in lychee plants.