Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Acarina: Eriophydae) was first discovered as a major pest of coconut (Cocos nucifera) from plantations along the coast of Guerrero, Mexico, in 1965, and it is now a major pest on this culture in most producing countries. In 1997 an eriophyoid mite was discovered to be associated with meristem necrosis and, eventually, death of young queen palm seedlings, Syagrus romanzoffiana (Cham.) Glassman, in a number of southern California nurseries. The mite was identified as A. guerreronis. In this work, the life cycle of this mite at different temperatures, the females fecundity and longevity and some aspects of its ecology on queen palm have been investigated. For biological studies the mites were reared on plant tissue embedded into 3% agar solution, the substrate being changed every day. A generation took 30.7, 16.2, 11.8, 8.3 and 7.5 days at 15, 20, 25, 30 and
35 °C, respectively. In the nurseries high numbers of mites were trapped using microscope slides coated with double-sticky tape, which indicates an intensive aerial dispersal from the infested plant. The occurrence of the symptoms caused by the mite on artificially infested queen palm seedlings, and the effects of different insecticides have also been investigated.
Species 1: Acari Eriophyidae Aceria guerreronis (Coconut mite)
Keywords: ornamental horticulture, IPM
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