Evaluation of abamectin as a potential chemical control for the lychee erinose mite (Acari: Eriophyidae), a new invasive pest in Florida

Authors

  • Alexandra M Revynthi University of Florida, Department of Entomology and Nematology, Homestead, Florida 33031, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3284-3104
  • Luisa F Cruz University of Florida, Department of Entomology and Nematology, Homestead, Florida 33031, USA
  • Maria Alejandra Canon University of Florida, Department of Entomology and Nematology, Homestead, Florida 33031, USA
  • Jonathan H Crane University of Florida, Horticultural Sciences Department, Homestead, Florida 33031, USA
  • Paul E Kendra USDA-ARS, Subtropical Horticulture Research Station, Miami, Florida 33158, USA
  • Catharine Mannion University of Florida, Department of Entomology and Nematology, Homestead, Florida 33031, USA
  • Daniel Carrillo University of Florida, Department of Entomology and Nematology, Homestead, Florida 33031, USA

Abstract

The lychee erinose mite, Aceria litchii (Keifer) (Acari: Eriophyidae), is an important pest of lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn.; Sapindaceae) trees. This minute mite prefers to feed on young, new flush causing the formation of galls called “erinea.” Chemical control to protect the new flush is the primary management approach that has been used to control this mite. Aceria litchii was detected recently in Lee County, Florida, USA, and there is an urgent need to identify an acaricide that can control mite populations. Among the acaricides registered for use on lychee in Florida, abamectin was reported to be effective against A. litchii from other parts of the world. However, it remains unknown whether this acaricide can control the mites inside the erinea effectively and protect the new flush. We investigated whether abamectin alone or in combination with an organosilicone surfactant could control an existing mite infestation. Lychee leaflets that had erinea were sprayed with acaricides, then placed on uninfested plants and monitored for symptom development. One mo after placing treated leaflets on uninfested plants, the same treatment was applied to the whole plants and monitored for erinea development on the new flush. Our results showed that none of the treatments were able to control the mites inside the erinea and protect the new flush. The methods described here can be used for more precise evaluations of other acaricides that are urgently needed to control A. litchii in Florida.

Resumen

El ácaro erinoso del litchi, Aceria litchii (Keifer) (Acari: Eriophyidae) es una plaga importante de árboles de litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.; Sapindaceae). Este ácaro diminuto prefiere alimentarse de tejidos jóvenes e induce la formación de un tipo de agallas llamadas “erineo.” El control químico para proteger las hojas jóvenes es el método más utilizado para controlar este ácaro. El ácaro erinoso del litchi fue detectado recientemente en el condado de Lee, Florida, USA, por lo cual se requiere urgentemente identificar acaricidas para controlarlo. Dentro de los acaricidas registrados para el uso en litchi en Florida, la abamectina ha sido reportado como eficiente para el control de este ácaro en otras partes del mundo. Sin embargo, se desconoce si este acaricida puede controlar al ácaro dentro del erineo y proteger los tejidos jóvenes. Investigamos si abamectina sola o en combinación con un tensoactivo organosiliconado pueden controlar una infestación activa. Para esto asperjamos hojas de litchi con erineo que fueron puestas sobre plantas sanas que luego fueron monitoreadas para el desarrollo de síntomas. Un mes después de la exposición a las hojas tratadas las plantas fueron asperjadas con los mismos tratamientos asperjados en las hojas y monitoreadas para la aparición de síntomas en tejidos jóvenes. Ninguno de los tratamientos resultó en control los ácaros dentro del erineo o en protección de tejidos jóvenes. Los métodos descritos es este estudio pueden utilizarse para realizar evaluaciones más detalladas de otros acaricidas que son requeridos urgentemente para controlar al ácaro erinoso del litchi en Florida.

Key Words: acaricide; organosilicone surfactant; Aceria litchii; erineum; quarantine

View this article in BioOne

Downloads

Published

2022-04-08

Issue

Vol. 105, No. 1 (March 2022)

Section

Research Papers

License

Copyright for any article published in Florida Entomologist is held by the author(s) of the article. Florida Entomologist is an open access journal. Florida Entomologist follows terms of the Creative Commons, Attribution Non-Commercial License (cc by-nc). By submitting and publishing articles in Florida Entomologist, authors grant the FOJ and Florida Entomologist's host institutions permission to make the article available through Internet posting and electronic dissemination, and to otherwise archive the information contained both electronically and in a hard printed version. When used, information and images obtained from articles must be referenced and cited appropriately. Articles may be reproduced for personal, educational, or archival purposes, or any non-commercial use. Permission should be sought from the author(s) for multiple, non-commercial reproduction. Written permission from the author(s) is required for any commercial reproduction.