Phytoseiidae on Citrus in Florida Dooryard, Varietal, and Commercial Trees between 1951 and 2014, and Species Recommendations for Evaluation in Citrus Under Protective Screen (CUPS)

Abstract

A survey of the mite fauna on citrus was conducted in 550 dooryard trees including 25 varietal trees in Florida, USA, during 2009 to 2014 in the following counties: Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Dade, Indian River, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Polk, St. Lucie, and Sarasota. One abandoned block of trees was sampled in Highlands County. Seventeen species of Phytoseiidae were identified from 1,982 slide-mounted mites collected from these trees. Euseius ennsi Ueckermann, Moraes & Childers, Euseius ovalis (Evans), Neoseiulus loxus (Schuster & Pritchard), Phytoseius coheni Swirski & Shechter, Typhlodromalus jucundus (Chant), and Typhlodromina johnsoni (Mahr) were new records on Florida citrus. Amblyseius largoensis (Muma) was the most abundant species with 854 of the phytoseiids followed by E. ovalis, Euseius mesembrinus (Dean), E. ennsi, and Iphiseioides quadripilis (Banks) (all Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) with 418, 388, 81, and 68 mites, respectively. Amblyseius largoensis was the most frequently collected phytoseiid from 220 of the 550 dooryard and varietal trees, followed by E. ovalis from 97 trees. A total of 787 commercial citrus trees were sampled in Florida from 2009 to 2014 in De Soto, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, Polk, and St Lucie counties. One T. jucundus was collected from these trees. Amblyseius largoensis and E. ovalis are recommended for evaluation as general predators of mite and insect pests in enclosed structures of citrus under protective screen (CUPS). Both mites have broad host ranges and are known mite predators, including some insect pests. Both species appear to have some degree of pesticide tolerance and use supplemental plant pollens such as Quercus virginiana Mill. (Fagaceae) or Typha spp. L. (Poaceae). Differences in phytoseiid species in this study and from earlier sampling for mites on citrus in Florida from 1986 to 2003 by the first author, a horticultural mineral oil (HMO) field study during 1994 to 1996, M. H. Muma from 1951 to 1975, and Denmark and Evans (2011) are included for comparison. A combined total of 60 phytoseiid species are reported on Florida citrus for the period of 1951 to 2014.