First report of Raoiella indica Hirst (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) and its damage to coconut palms in Puerto Rico and Culebra Island

Authors: RODRIGUEZ, JOSE - UNV OF PUERTO RICO; Ochoa, Ronald - Ron; KANE, ETHAN - APHIS/PPQ

Submitted to: International Journal of Acarology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2007
Publication Date: 3/1/2007
Citation: Rodriguez, J.C., Ochoa, R., Kane, E. 2007. First report of Raoiella indica Hirst (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) and its damage to coconut palms in Puerto Rico and Culebra Island. International Journal of Acarology. 33(1):3-5.

Interpretive Summary: The Red Palm mite is a new invasive pest in the Americas that infests coconut, bananas, and several ornamental plants, including gingers, heliconias and palms. The invasive Red Palm mite was introduced to Martinique and spread quickly to other islands including Dominica, Saint Lucia and Trinidad. This mite causes chlorosis and necrosis of the leaf and the populations could number from hundreds to millions of individuals per plant. The importance of this paper is to report the recent introduction of this mite to Puerto Rico and alert the eastern region of the U.S. of its presence. This species represents a threat to the ornamental industry in the U.S. and to banana production of the Americas in which the U.S. is one of the most important consumers. This report will be important to taxonomists, quarantine programs, and to persons involved with the ornamental industry, integrated pest management and control.

Technical Abstract: This is the first report of the occurrence of the Red Palm mite Raoiella indica and its damage in Puerto Rico and Culebra island. Raoiella indica is a new invasive pest threatening ornamental palm, coconut, and banana plantations. The mite was observed in eastern Puerto Rico and in Culebra island infesting and causing damage in coconut, Cocos nucifera L., and Veitchia merrillii L.