Some plant mites (Acari: Tetranychidae: Stigmaeidae) from Province of Tungurahua in Ecuador

Abstract

Abstract. A survey to identify mites associated to fruit trees, vegetables, ornamental plants, and weed species was conducted between 2016 and 2017 in the Province of Tungurahua, Ecuador. In addition, the database collection of mite species from the Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Técnica de Ambato (located in Tungurahua, Ecuador) was revised. A total of 227 specimens belonging to two mite families (Tetranychidae and Stigmaeidae) were collected and identified. These mites are associated with fruit [Fragaria x ananassa (strawberry), Prunus serotina (capuli cherry), Rubus gluacus (blackberry), Prunus persica (peach tree), Passiflora tripartite (tacso) and Solanum muricatum (sweet pepino)], wood trees [Alnus acuminate (aliso), Juglans neotropica (tocte)], vegetables [Arracacia xanthorrhiza (white carrot), Phaseolus sp. (ornamental bean) , Tropaeolum tuberosum (mashua) and weeds [Artemisia vulgaris (mugworts)]. Most of these mite species represent reporting of a new host-plant association. Also, concerning some crops from the Ecuadorian Andes, geographic distribution data are presented in conjunction to the importance of

Keywords

• Phytophagous mites
• predator mites
• Andes