The lacewing as a potential biological agent for controlling the red palm mite .

Background: Compared to chemical control, the use of naturally occurring biological agents to control invasive pests is less threatening to the environment and human health.

Objectives: Here, we assessed the ability of immature stages of the lacewing (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) to prey upon different developmental stages of the red palm mite (Acari: Tenuipalpidae), one of the most destructive invasive pests of palm trees in Neotropical regions.

Methods: Increasing densities of three stages of (eggs, immature stages, and adult females) were offered to in coconut leaf arenas.

Toxicity of vegetable oils to the coconut mite Aceria guerreronis and selectivity against the predator Neoseiulus baraki.

The coconut mite, Aceria guerreronis (Acari: Eriophyidae), is a major tropical pest of coconut. Here, we assessed the chemical profiles and the potential use of babassu, degummed soybean, and coconut oils to control A. guerreronis as well as their side-effects on the predatory mite Neoseiulus baraki (Acari: Phytoseiidae), a key natural enemy of the coconut mite.

Dispersal strategies of Aceria guerreronis (Acari: Eriophyidae), a coconut pest.

The dispersal of plant-feeding mites can occur involuntarily, through transportation of infested plant parts, or voluntarily, by walking to new plant parts or to suitable spots where biotic (phoresis) or abiotic (wind, agricultural tools, etc.) factors carry them over long distances. Elucidating the dispersal mechanisms of the coconut mite, Aceria guerreronis Keifer, is important for understanding the process of colonization of new fruits of a same or different plants, essential for the improvement of control strategies of this serious coconut pest.

Distribution of Aceria guerreronis and Neoseiulus baraki among and within coconut bunches in northeast Brazil.

Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae) is considered a major pest of coconut in many countries in the Americas, Africa and parts of Asia. Neoseiulus baraki Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is one of the predatory mites most commonly found in association with A. guerreronis in parts of northeast Brazil.

Life history of Proctolaelaps bulbosus feeding on the coconut mite Aceria guerreronis and other possible food types occurring on coconut fruits.

Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae) is a major pest of coconut fruits (Cocos nucifera L.) in many countries of the Americas, Africa, and parts of Asia. Considerable attention has been given to studies of biological control agents of A.

[Diagrammatic scale of Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae) damage in coconut].

Aceria guerreronis Keifer is an important pest of coconut worldwide. Due to the lack of standardized methods to quantify damage of this eryophyid, a diagrammatic scale with indices of 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 48 and 70% of damage caused by A. guerreronis was elaborated and tested to accuracy, precision and reproduction of the estimations.

[Biology of Amblyseius largoensis (Muma) (Acari: Phytoseiidae), a potential predator of Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae) on coconut trees].

Aceria guerreronis Keifer is considered one of the main pests of coconuts around the world. Amongst the Phytoseiidae recorded on this crop, Amblyseius largoensis (Muma) has been reported in association with A. guerreronis.