ABSTRACT. Mexican agriculturists have recently noticed strong increases of mite infestations in papaya (Carica papaya L. 1753) orchards. A list of mite species associated with papaya leaves was constructed to determine the species responsible for high infestations and to identify predaceous mites as potential biological control agents. Mites were collected from three foliage strata (high, middle and low), in seven municipalities of central Veracruz State. Leaves were processed by washing and sieving. Identified species included four tetranychids: Eotetranychus lewisi (McGregor 1943) (Banks 1905), with the first two species being the most abundant. The vagrant eriophyid Calacarus citrifolii Keifer 1955 was collected in three municipalities, in the low stratum. Neither the broad mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks 1904), nor the carmine spider mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval 1867), were collected, although these species were previously recorded from this area. None of the Phytoseiid species found can be considered a recently established species; their potential as biological control agents is discussed.

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