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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #432748
Research Project: Systematics and Biology of Acari and Hemiptera of Agricultural Importance: Plant Pests, Predators, and Disease Vectors

Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Title: A look at the diversity of Paraponychus corderoi (Acari: Tetranychidae) in Costa Rica

Author
item MURILLO, PAMELA - Universidad De Costa Rica
item ABARCA-DURAN, JACQUELINE - Universidad De Costa Rica
item VARGAS, GABRIEL - Universidad De Costa Rica
item PENA, LUIS - Universidad De Costa Rica
item AGUILAR-PIEDRA, H - Universidad De Costa Rica
item Ochoa, Ronald

Submitted to: Systematic and Applied Acarology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/14/2026
Publication Date: 4/23/2026
Citation: Murillo, P., Abarca-Duran, J., Vargas, G., Pena, L., Aguilar-Piedra, H., Ochoa, R. 2026. A look at the diversity of Paraponychus corderoi (Acari: Tetranychidae) in Costa Rica. Systematic and Applied Acarology. 31(4):595-604. https://doi.org/10.11158/saa.31.4.6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.11158/saa.31.4.6

Interpretive Summary: Spider mites are a major agriculture pest problem in crops, fruit trees and ornamentals with costs of damage and control exceeding 500 million dollars. In Costa Rica chayote is major crop for domestic consumption as well as an export, principally to the Unites States. In 2025, the US accounted for 75% of Costa Rican export with a value of 22 million dollars. In Costa Rica there is a mite of phytosanitary concern associated with Chayote, the chayote spider mite. The mite can use the natural contours of the fruit to resist sanitary processes and avoid detection. We seek to study the mite’s ecology and agricultural practices to help control the mite and prevent an invasive event. Our understanding of genetic reproduction and population movements is key for future control efforts and policies. Our research will benefit the continuing development of this crop in Florida and Louisiana.

Technical Abstract: The phytophagous mite Paraponychus corderoi (Baker & Pritchard 1962) (Acari: Tetranychidae) is native to some countries of the Latin American region. This species prompted the implementation of quarantine restrictions because it finds refuge in the natural crevices of the chayote (Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw.) fruit. The farms located in the Ujarrás Valley of Costa Rica have ideal growing conditions for the chayotes and the mites. Due to morphological differences, it has been suggested that P.corderoi may in fact represent a cryptic species; however, the genetic diversity of these mites is not known. Mites from different farms were collected and mounted for further morphological and genetic analyses. A phylogeny was constructed, and the polymorphic sites and genetic diversity among populations were calculated using a haplotype network analysis. Females with short setae were frequently found around the farms followed by the variant with long setae. The phylogenetic tree revealed the relationship between Paraponychus and other genera within the Tetranychidae family. Genetic diversity among the populations revealed 13 different haplotypes. The most genetically distant haplotypes, separated by 23 mutational steps, were found in the region of Santiago. Further research is necessary to compare populations of this and other Paraponychus species from other countries to unveil the real genetic diversity of this group.