Tenuipalpidae Berlese
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hysterosoma. Tarsus II has one solenidion. The dorsal setae of femora I and II are lanceolate serrate and about half as long as the width of the segment (Baker, 1949). MALE. Similar to female but smaller (Pritchard and Baker, 1958).
Geographical distribution Chile (Baker, 1949); India (Ghai and Shenhmar, 1984). Bio-ecology The grape flat mite infests different plants of fruit (citrus, fig, almond), ornamentals (Chrysanthemum sp., Geranium sp.), forest trees, annual weeds and is destructive for grapevines in Chile (Jeppson et al., 1975). It lives on the lower surface of the leaves and overwinters as a fecund female on various shelters of the bark. The greatest development occurs on the higher part of the canopy and oviposition in October; depending on the climatic conditions, the mite completes a generation in 25.3 days (with a range of 18–59 days) and from three to six generations per year (Gonzalez, 1968). Natural enemies include the Coccinellid Stethorus histrio Chazeau (Aguilera, 1987) and the phytoseiid mites Neoseiulus chilenesis (Dosse) (Gonzalez, 1983), Neoseiulus californicus and Typhlodsomus pyri; the latter predators appear able to regulate the development of mite populations (Vargas et al., 2005). Symptomatology and damage Feeding injury of B. chilensis on citrus is not severe and well known. On lemon, it results in a roughened silvering of the rind (Ripa and Rodriguez, 1999). Control Natural enemies are unable to contain the development of pest populations (Hernera Villamil, 1958). Control is entrusted to the use of chemicals, and applications should be started as early as possible in spring (Jeppson et al., 1975). Chemicals cited in the literature include avermectins (Gonzalez, 1999, 2001; Gonzalez and Barria, 1999); pyrethroids (Gonzalez, 2001); organochlorines (Jeppson et al., 1975); petroleum oils (Curkovic et al., 1994; Montano, 1995); sulfur (Jeppson et al., 1975); or other acaricides (quinoxalines, organosulphurs, pyridazinones) (Curkovic et al., 1994) used as spring or summer treatments. Jadue et al. (1996) tried to control the mite by low temperatures.
11.3.1.4 Brevipalpus cucurbitae Mohanasundaram (Fig. 11.6) Common name Unknown.