Population dynamics of Aceria guerreronis (Acari: Eriophyidae) and its predatory mite, Neoseiulus baraki (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in two coconut growing areas in Sri Lanka

• Published in: Experimental & applied acarology 2012-04, Vol.56 (4), p.319-325
• Main Authors: Aratchige, N. S., Fernando, L. C. P., Waidyarathne, K. P., Chandrasiri, K. A. S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acari; Acari - growth & development; Acari - parasitology; Animal Ecology; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Animals; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cocos - parasitology; Drought; Droughts; Dry season; Entomology; Eriophyidae; Fruits; Life Sciences; Mite Infestations - epidemiology; Mite Infestations - parasitology; Mites; Phytoseiidae; Population density; Population Dynamics; Rain; Rainfall; Regression Analysis; Seasons; Sri Lanka - epidemiology
• ISSN: 0168-8162; 1572-9702
• DOI: 10.1007/s10493-012-9519-z

Densities of coconut mite, Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae) and its predatory mite, Neoseiulus baraki Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) were monitored on coconut fruits in two coconut mite infested areas, Kalpitiya and Madurankuliya, in Sri Lanka, over a period of 3 years and were compared with local rainfall records. Significant differences in A . guerreronis densities were observed among years and months of the year. Rainfall (amount and frequency, i.e. the total number of days with rainfall of >5 mm) was not significantly correlated with the variation of A . guerreronis densities. But the drought length (i.e. the number of days without rainfall of >5 mm) significantly influenced A . guerreronis densities. Generally, peak densities of A . guerreronis were observed during February–March and June–September in both areas. The differences in the N . baraki densities were significantly different between the two areas and among the 3 years but not among months of the year. Although the amount of rainfall was not significantly correlated with the population densities of N . baraki , frequency of rainfall showed a negative significant correlation and drought length showed a positive significant correlation with the population densities. The results of this experiment indicated that the application of control methods for A . guerreronis may be more advantageous if they are carried out at the onset and during the dry seasons.