Raoiella indica una especie que nos sigue sorprendiendo/Raoiella indica a species that keep giving surprises

Authors: ESTRADA-VENEGAS, EDITH - Postgraduate College; Ochoa, Ronald - Ron; AYALA-ORTEGO, JOSE DE JESUS - Postgraduate College; CORRALES-FUENTES, ARIANA - Postgraduate College; MONTOYA-CONTRERAS, DIANA - Postgraduate College; EQUIHUA-MARTINEZ, ARMANDO - Postgraduate College

Submitted to: Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/25/2023
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Raoiella indica (Acari: Tenuipalpidae), a phytophagous species of quarantine importance, both in America and Asia, with no records in Europe. Widely distributed in the American continent causing damage, since its arrival in the 2004 to the island of Martinique. Established mainly in coastal areas, tropical climate zones, warm with high humidity in the different countries of the continent where the mite has been distributed. It feeds on the underside of the leaves and its main host plant is the coconut, but as it progresses to new sites the list of host plants increases. The species is found in sites of low altitude from 0 to 500 meters above sea level, in the countries where it is present. Based on the results it was considered that the distribution would be restricted to low areas with high temperatures and that high altitude sites with low temperatures would not be appropriate for the development of the species. In Mexico, the species is currently distributed in 15 coastal states and in more than 200 municipalities and there were no collections in states in the center of the country. collections were made in the country in places, far from the beaches in areas above 500 meters above sea level, where we find different host plants (Cocos nucifera, Phoenix canariensis, Phoenix robelinii, among others). Still in extreme areas where we thought the species would not be, such as Mexico City (CDMX) which is located at a height of 2240 meters above sea level. Where we found the species present in Palma Canaria and Robelina palm, expanding the distribution of the species in the country. was found to different heights, where the great adaptability of the species was observed. The climate change is helping this species to expand its distribution to areas where low cold temperatures are not showing up. Therefore, it is considered that it will continue to disperse, and the height and freezing temperatures will be the most important barriers to stop the distribution of the species. It was also found feeding on the upper surface of the leaves of Phoenix robelinii and P. canariensis, behavior that had previously been observed in Mexico.