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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #416050
Research Project: Systematics of Acari and Hemiptera: Plant Pests, Predators, and Disease Vectors

Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Title: Peacock mites on cannon-ball tree, Couroupita guianensis Lecythidaceae) in the Southeast Region of Brazil

Author
item ESCOBAR-GARCIA, HECTOR - Universidad Nacional De Piura
item ANDRADE, DANIEL JUNIOR D - Sao Paulo State University (UNESP)
item BEARD, J. - University Of Maryland
item Ochoa, Ronald

Submitted to: Acarologia
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/16/2024
Publication Date: 10/30/2024
Citation: Escobar-Garcia, H.A., Andrade, D.E., Beard, J.J., Ochoa, R. 2024. Peacock mites on cannon-ball tree, Couroupita guianensis Lecythidaceae) in the Southeast Region of Brazil. Acarologia. 64(4):1138-1148. https://doi.org/10.24349/a2ld-gvdp.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24349/a2ld-gvdp

Interpretive Summary: Peacock mites are an emerging new pest on fruit trees in the Americas. There is no known practical control for them. Previously peacock mites were known as a pest on limes and avocados. Based on new studies we are finding them associated several with economically important native trees in the Americas. They have recently been associated with cocoa, a very economically important crop for Latin America.This article reports the finding of a peacock mite species in Brazil affecting a large deciduous tropical evergreen tree that is popular for its ornamental and medicinal uses. The distribution and description of the damage were presented to help with the understanding of this emerging invasive species on canon ball trees. This study will be important to plant protection programs, botanists, extension officers, agriculture programs, scientists, quarantine officers, entomologists and fruit tree growers.

Technical Abstract: Tuckerella ornata (Tucker), Tuckerella knorri Baker & Tuttle (Acari Tuckerellidae) and Brevipalpus yothersi Baker (Acari Tenuipalpidade) were found associated with the native South American Cannon-ball tree, Couroupita guianensis Aubl. (Lecythidaceae), for the first time in Brazil. The trees were observed throughout their flowering season in spring for two consecutive years. The highest population densities of peacock and flat mites were located on the raceme-type inflorescences. Throughout this survey, no mites were detected on the fruits.