2018) The invasive red palm mite, Raoiellaindica Hirst (Acari: Tenuipalpidae), in Brazil: range extension and arrival into the most threatened area, the Northeast Region, ABSTRACT Raoiella indica Hirst (Acari: tenuipalpidae), commonly known as the red palm mite (RPM), is an invasive polyphagous pest, which has emerged as a threat to agriculture in the Americas. In the Americas, the mite has not only spread quickly, but also greatly extended its host range in the new areas where it has been observed. We present here new records of the RPM in Brazilian states, with focus on its arrival into the most threatened area, the Northeast Region. Coconut and banana are important crops in this region of Brazil and represent the main threatened crops by this pest. These new records of RPM reinforce the idea that this species is already widely distributed throughout Brazil eight years after its introduction into the extreme North state of Roraima. Comments on the possible economic, social and environmental impacts are presented. ARTICLE HISTORY

The red palm mite, Raoiella indica Hirst (Tenuipalpidae), has mainly been registered on palm species (Arecaceae), and its expansion in Brazil has the potential to cause significant negative impact on cultivated as well as native palms. Here, we evaluate the potential of native palms from Northeast Brazil to act as hosts of R. indica. Specifically, we used in situ free-choice and confinement tests, in which sections of palm leaves/leaflets of various species were experimentally infested with R. indica. We tested the following species: Acroco-

Aceria guerreronis Keifer is a major coconut pest in the Americas, Africa and some Asian countries, and occurs in high population levels in northeastern Brazil. The determination of the climatic conditions that favorably affect its population growth and the prevalence and abundance of predatory mites can promote more efficient control practices. Our objective was to evaluate the pattern of occurrence and population dynamics of A. guerreronis, their associated predators and other mites during a 2 year period in a hybrid coconut plantation in the municipality of Una, state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil. Monthly samples of fruits were taken from June 2008 to May 2010 for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of mites. Aceria guerreronis represented 99.9 % of the mites. An average density of 1,117 mites per fruit and a maximum of 23,596 mites per fruit indicated that the level of infestation can be high in Bahia. Bdella ueckermanni Hernandes, Daud and Feres was the most abundant and frequent predator. Population increase of A. guerreronis was directly related to the temperature rise and inversely related to both the increase of air relative humidity and rainfall. The highest population densities occurred from November to March. The largest A. guerreronis populations occurred in fruits with 32 and 48 % of damaged surface. The relationship between prevailing wind direction and incidence of A. guerreronis could not be corroborated or refuted.

The cultivation of tropical fruit trees has grown considerably in the state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil. Some of these have been severely attacked by phytophagous mites, which are usually controlled by the use of chemical pesticides. However, there is today a growing interest for the adoption of less aggressive measures of pest control, as for example the use of predatory mites. Most of the plant-inhabiting predatory mites belong to the family Phytoseiidae. The objective of this paper is to report the phytoseiid species found in an intensive survey conducted on cultivated tropical fruit trees in fifteen localities of the southern coast of Bahia. Measurements of relevant morphological characters are provided for each species, to complement the understanding of the morphological variation of these species. Twenty-nine species of sixteen genera were identified. A key was elaborated to assist in the separation of these species. Fifteen species are reported for the first time in the state, raising to sixty-six the number of species of this family now known from Bahia. Seventy-two percent of the species collected belong to Amblyseiinae, followed by Typhlodrominae (21%) and Phytoseiinae (7%). The most diverse genus was Amblyseius. Amblyseius operculatus De Leon was the most frequent and abundant species. Studies should be conducted to evaluate the possible role of the most common predators as control agents of the phytophagous mites co-occurring with them.

Objetivou-se avaliar o uso de compostos orgânicos produzidos a partir de resíduos da agroindústria do palmito pupunha e lodo de esgoto com diferentes níveis de fertilizante como substrato para produção de mudas de juçara (Euterpe edulis Martius). Foi utilizado o delineamento inteiramente casualizado (DIC), em esquema fatorial de 3 x 4, sendo os tratamentos: substratos à base de lodo de esgoto e resíduos da agroindústria da palmeira pupunha (3 níveis: Biossólido + Casca de pupunha em proporções de 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 em volume) e doses de fertilizante granulado (4 níveis: 0; 2,0; 4,0 e 6,0 g dm-3) além de um substrato comercial, caracterizado como tratamento adicional porém, sem propósito de análise estatística, com quatro repetições, sendo caracterizadas como parcela útil, o total de dez plantas. Foram medidos: diâmetro de colo, altura das plantas, altura de planta/diâmetro do coleto, massa seca da parte aérea, massa seca de raiz, índice de qualidade de Dickson (IQD), nutrientes na parte aérea e qualidade do torrão. O uso de biossólido e casca de pupunha apresenta viabilidade como substrato na produção de mudas de juçara. Os três substratos testados podem ser utilizados para a produção de mudas de juçara sem a adição de fertilizante granulado.