Mites (Acari) on coconut, date palm and associated plants in Oman

Abstract

Faunistic information about plant mites in the Sultanate of Oman is scarce. Within the scope of a project investigating the biological control of the coconut mite, Aceria guerreronis Keifer, a preliminary survey was conducted in the Dhofar and Muscat regions of Oman to determine possible alternative plants on which natural enemies associated with this pest might occur. During the survey, 29 mite species were found. The most prevalent phytophagous species were A. guerreronis on coconut, Calacarus flagelliseta Flechtmann, Moraes & Barbosa on papaya (both Eriophyidae) and Raoiella indica Hirst (Tenuipalpidae) on coconut and banana. Calacarus flagelliseta was found to be heavily infected by the entomopathogenic fungus Hirsutella sp. Other mites with high prevalence include the pollen-feeder Neocypholaelaps stridulans (Evans) (Ameroseiidae) and Euseius scutalis Athias-Henriot, the latter being the most numerous of the predatory Phytoseiidae. Only the phytoseiids Neoseiulus paspalivorus De Leon and Cydnoseius negevi (Swirski & Amitai) were found directly associated with A. guerreronis, underneath the perianth. They were never found on other host plants. The geographical ranges of Cheletomimus gracilis Fain, Bochkov & Corpuz-Raros (Cheyletidae), Typhlodromusdalfardicus Daneshvar (Phytoseiidae) and Nasutitarsonemus Beer & Nucifora (Tarsonemidae) are extended.