review of the natural enemies of the red palm mite, Raoiella indica (Acari: Tenuipalpidae)

• Published in: Experimental & applied acarology Vol. 57; no. 3-4; pp. 347 - 360
• Main Authors: Carrillo, Daniel, Howard Frank, J, Rodrigues, Jose Carlos V, Peña, Jorge E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer-Verlag 01-08-2012; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abundance; Acari; Amblyseius; Animal Ecology; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Animals; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Entomology; Food Chain; fungi; Insecta; Insects; Life Sciences; Mites; Mites - microbiology; natural enemies; Pest Control, Biological; Predators; Predatory Behavior; predatory insects; Stethorus; Tenuipalpidae; tropics; Caribbean; Asia; Africa; Predatory insects; Invasive species; Predatory mites; Pathogenic fungi; Biological control; Natural enemies
• ISSN: 0168-8162; 1572-9702
• DOI: 10.1007/s10493-011-9499-4

A review of all the available information about the natural enemies reported in association with the red palm mite, Raoiella indica is presented. Twenty-eight species of predatory arthropods, including mites and insects, have been reported in association with R. indica in Asia, Africa and the Neotropics. In addition, pathogenic fungi associated with R. indica in the Caribbean have been reported. The available literature indicates that each site has a different natural enemy complex with only one predator species, Amblyseius largoensis (Acari: Phytoseiidae), present in all the geographical areas. The phytoseiids, Amblyseius caudatus Berlese, Amblyseius channabasavanni Gupta and A. largoensis, were regarded as important natural enemies of R. indica, and their predatory efficiency was studied in some detail. Among the predatory insects the coccinellids Stethorus keralicus Kapur and Telsimia ephippiger Chapin were reported as major predators of R. indica. The known distribution, abundance and relative importance of each species reported in association with R. indica are discussed.