Mite Fauna (Arachnida: Acari) on Peach Cultivars in Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil

This study aimed to determine the mite diversity, population dynamics and to conduct a fauna analysis in plantations from four peach varieties established in the municipality of Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil. The mite fauna from ‘Joia 4’, ‘Ouromel 3’, ‘Regis’ and ‘Rei da conserva’ cultivars over the rootstock Okinawa were determined from December 2002 to February 2006. Samples composed by 72 leaves were collected fortnightly from upper, middle and lower third of each tree and four trees per cultivar. A total of 3,084 mites were recovered during the experiment, with the following distribution: 2,638 phytophagous, 373 predators and 73 of unknown feeding habit. The mites recovered were related to 18 species from 12 mite families. Aculus fockeui (Eriophyidae) occurred sporadically, not causing symptoms on the canopy. Euseius citrifoluis was the most abundant species among the Phytoseiidae, with predominance on cultivar ‘Regis’.