Population behavior of Raoiella indica Hirst. (Acari: Tenuilpalpidae) in coconut nursery

Abstract

The coconut palm red mite has increased its populations in the municipality of Baracoa and has become a threat to the production of coconut palm seedlings. The objective of the research is to determine the population behavior of Raoiella indica in coconut nurseries. For this purpose, biweekly samplings were carried out, where the population of the mite (eggs, mobile stages and adults) present on the underside of the leaves was counted and the influence of climatic variables was taken into account. This allowed them to plot the population fluctuation and perform a Principal Component Analysis. It was observed that the periods of abundant rainfall affected the population increase, while with the rise in temperature the increase was favored. This was corroborated in the Principal Component Analysis where mean, maximum and minimum temperatures had a positive relationship, which favored the population increase of the mite, while precipitation had a negative relationship.