Feres, R.J.F., Rossa-Feres, D. de C., Daud, R.D., Santos, R.S., 2002.
Mites diversity (Acari, Arachnida) from rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg., Euphorbiaceae) in Northwestern of Sao Paulo State, Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Zoologia, 19: 137-144.
Abstract
The mites of three rubber tree cultures in Cedral, Pindorama, Taquaritinga in Sao Paulo, Brazil were studied to determine the abundance of populations, richness, diversity and the degree of similarity among the communities. Twenty one species were found, five of which (Calacarus heveae, Pronematus sp. Euseius citrifolius, Tenuipalpus heveae and Eutetranychus banksi) were common to the three cultures. The richness and the abundance were greatest at the beginning of the dry season. The composition of communities differed probably as consequence of the kind of neighbouring vegetation to each area and of the acaricid pulverization on the culture of Taquaritinga, reducing the richness of mite species in that area. The influence of neighbouring vegetation can be shown by the occurrence of Iphiseiodes zuluagai, a common species to citrus trees, on neighbouring rubber trees in Taquaritinga, and Tenuipalpus heveae, a common species on rubber trees, on a coffee culture neighbour to the rubber trees of Pindorama. This data suggests that mites move among neighbour cultures, and can be an important factor towards pest management and control. The diversity was small on the three cultures, as a result of the occurrence of one dominant species on each area, Calacarus heveae or T. heveae, which are considered pests of the rubber tree. The small diversity and the occurrence of dominant species are patterns expected in monocultures, systems with small environmental heterogeneity
