First Report ofRaoiella indica(Acari: Tenuipalpidae) in Amazonas State, Brazil

Abstract

Raoiella indica Hirst is an invasive species that was first reported in the Neotropical region in 2004 by Flechtmann & Etienne (2004). Since its initial spread throughout the Caribbean is lands, causing devastating impacts to local coco nut and banana crops (Rodrigues et al. (2007), this mite has been quickly approaching large ar eas of banana and coconut palm plantations in Central and South America. Navia et al. (2011) reported the occurrence of Raoiella in Jul 2009 in urban areas of Boa Vista in the state of Roraima, Brazil. Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture authori ties established quarantine measures restricting the movement of plant material and products (ba nana and coconut fruits) from infested areas to other states. Navia et al. (2011) also reported a so cial impact caused by the embargo on banana ex portation by local small growers to the state of Amazonas. Moreover, a substantial increase in banana and plantain prices occurred in the state of Amazonas because fruit had to be imported from distant regions (Lima 2009). On 2 Aug 2011 we observed plants showing characteristic red palm mite feeding damage, and associated to them we observed the infested