Preferencia e incidencia de Schizotetranychus hindustanicus (Hirst, 1924) (Acari: Tetranychidae) sobre variedades de Citrus

The objective of this research was to study the incidence and preference of Schizotetranychus hindustanicus (Hirst) (Acari: Tetranychidae) on 16 varieties of the genus Citrus (Rutaceae) on 'Citrumelo CPB 4755' and 'Sunki x English' rootstocks in an plantation in vegetative development located in Zona Bananera, Magdalena, Colombia. Biweekly evaluations were carried out from February 2017 to December 2018. The number of S. hindustanicus specimens were counted in four mature leaf samples for each variety/rootstock. The relationships between the percentage of infestation and the meteorological variables were established by an analysis of their correlations and Biplot representations based on the main component analysis. In 2017, the months with the highest tree infestation were May and June for lemon (8.1%), August (6.83%) for orange, and May (9.36%) and April (8.51 %) for mandarin. In 2018, the months with the highest tree infestation were January (11.34%) and December (9.49 %) for lemon; April (14.64 %), November (15.28%), and December (15.43%) for orange. In 2018, an infestation increase was observed in mandarin in April (15.64%) and December (15.07%). Using Spearman's correlation coefficient, a positive and significant correlation (0.16 ≤ ρ ≤ 0.22, p <0.001) was found between mite infestation and the variables: mean and maximum wind speed. In addition, mite infestation was favored by periods of low accumulated precipitation. These results are key for the design of a management strategy for S. hindustanicus , focusing control on the months of with the highest presence of the pest.