Preference of hospedante of Raoiella indica (Acari:Tenuipalpidae) under laboratory conditions

Abstract

Raoiella indica (palm red mite), an invasive pest, described in 1924 by Hirst on coconut leaves (Cocos nucifera) in India, was recorded in Guantánamo, Cuba in 2008 on this host and Adonidia merrillii (Becc.)( de la Torre et al., 2010), it quickly spread throughout the country, on various Arecaceae and also some records on Mussa spp, gardens and green areas.The objective of this work was to determine under laboratory conditions the behavior of R. indica on banana (M. paradisiaca), a crop of agricultural interest against A. merrillii, a useful tool to adjust the management of this pest in production areas. A test was set up in the INISAV Acarology laboratory, consisting of facing sections of plantain leaves ‘Macho –’ (AAB) and garden palm (A. merrillii) 3 cm long by 5 cm wide, placed on moist cotton in a 9-inch petri dish. cm, on each one five young females of the mite were placed and 18 units were mounted. The observations began 24 hours later and three per day (11:00 AM, 1:00 and 3:00 PM) were made at 2, 3, 4, 7 and, only one at 10 days, the leaves of A. merrillii, with more than 50% necrosis. In all the counts, the individuals present, the number of eggs, droppings and other traces were recorded. Isolated individuals were less active, had low oviposition and did not have a defined structure; the natural gregarious behavior of the mite on these hosts was not observed. Under the experimental conditions, M. paradisiaca L. was more effective for the survival and oviposition of R. indica than A.merrilli, although both with low indicators due to the use of virgin females and the manipulation of the breeding sands.