Damage caused by Tetranychus Merganser Bondreaux (Acari: Tetranychidae) on Nopal Verdura Opuntia Ficus-Indica (L.) Miller during winter

Abstract

The spider mite Tetranychus merganser occurs in some crops in Mexico and USA. This mite could be considered a potential pest in countries like Japan. In this work we recorded the damages that T. merganser causes to the nopal verdura (prickly pear vegetable crop) in one of the principal cactus crop regions of Mexico.

The Resistance of Seven Host Plants to Tetranychus merganser Boudreaux (Acari: Tetranychidae)

“…The mites that cause serious damage to crops and ornamental plants are found in the genera Tetranychus Dufour, Panonychus Yokoyama, Oligonychus Berlese, and Eutetranychus Banks [1,2]. The red spider mite, Tetranychus merganser Boudreaux (Acari: Tetranychidae), causes severe damage by its feeding in different species of plants of the family Aquifoliaceae, Apocynaceae, Cactaceae, Caricaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Moringaceae, Oleaceae, Pittosporaceae, Rosaceae, Ranunculaceae Rutaceae and Solanaceae [1,[3][4][5][6][7][8]. The red spider mite is distributed in the United States, China, Mexico, and Thailand [1].…”

“…The red spider mite is distributed in the United States, China, Mexico, and Thailand [1]. Moreover, it is considered a potential pest for Mexican agriculture [3,8], e.g., causing losses of 586 ± 234 dollars per hectare in prickly pear cactus, (Opuntia ficus-indica L.) Miller (Cactaceae) crops [3]. The red spider mite can develop and reproduce in a wide range of climatic factors [9,10].…”