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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #375859
Research Project: Methyl Bromide Replacement: Mitigation of the Invasive Pest Threat from the American Tropics and Subtropics

Location: Subtropical Horticulture Research

Title: The lychee erinose mite: two years after its detection in Florida

Author
item REVYNTHI, ALEXANDRA - University Of Florida
item CRUZ, LUISA - University Of Florida
item NARVAEZ, TERESA - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE)
item CANON, MARIA-ALEJANDRA - University Of Florida
item Schnell, Elena
item MANNION, CATHERINE - University Of Florida
item Tabanca, Nurhayat
item Kendra, Paul
item CARRILLO, DANIEL - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/31/2020
Publication Date: 11/11/2020
Citation: Revynthi, A. M., L. F. Cruz, T. I. Narvaez, M. A. Canon, E. Schnell, C. Mannion, N. Tabanca, P. E. Kendra, and D. Carrillo. 2020. The lychee erinose mite: two years after its detection in Florida. 67th Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America (Virtual). 11-25 Nov 2020.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The lychee erinose mite (LEM) (Aceria litchi) is an important pest of lychee. This minute mite prefers to feed on young leaves (new flush), causing a hyperplasia of leaf trichomes, referred to as “erinea”. In 2018 LEM was detected in Lee County, Florida. Subsequently LEM was detected in 13 other counties but not in the main commercial production area in South Florida. A quarantine was imposed to Lee County and eradication efforts are taking place throughout the State. Specimens from different places of the world were compared morphologically and molecularly. Specimens from Taiwan and Florida present identical ITS and rDNA segments, suggesting a common origin. We evaluated the efficacy of abamectin, a registered acaricide for use in lychee in Florida, to control existing mite infestations and protect the new flush of previously infested plants. We developed a postharvest treatment using a paraffinic oil dip to disinfest fruit of LEM. Little information is available regarding the ecology of this pest and how it locates the new flush while being hidden inside the erinea. Therefore, current research focuses on the chemical ecology of LEM. Volatiles from different plant structures have different ratios of two sesquiterpenes (ar-curcumene and zingiberene), which could be associated with the preference of LEM for the new flush. Presently we are testing the attraction of LEM to two ginger oils containing these two compounds. Results of this study can serve as the basis for development of a lure that can be used for control of this mite.