University of São Paulo “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture Exploration of potential agents for the biological control of the red palm mite, Raoiella indica Hirst (Acari: Tenuipalpidae), on coconut palms in Brazil Daniel Chiaradia Oliveira Thesis presented to obtain the degree of Doctor in Science. Area: Entomology Piracicaba 2015 Daniel Chiaradia Oliveira Agronomist Exploration of potential agents for the biological control of the red palm mite, Raoiella indica Hirst (Acari: Tenuipalpidae), on coconut palms in Brazil Advisor: Prof. Dr. GILBERTO JOSÉ DE MORAES Thesis presented to obtain the degree of Doctor in Science. Area: Entomology Piracicaba 2015 Dados Internacionais de Catalogação na Publicação DIVISÃO DE BIBLIOTECA - DIBD/ESALQ/USP Oliveira, Daniel Chiaradia Exploration of potential agents for the biological control of the red palm mite, Raoiella indica Hirst (Acari: Tenuipalpidae), on coconut palms in Brazil / Daniel Chiaradia Oliveira. - - Piracicaba, 2015. 133 p. : il. Tese (Doutorado) - - Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz”. 1. Ácaro-vermelho-das-palmeiras 2. Taxonomia 3. Ácaros predadores 4. Controle biológico 5. Diversidade I. Título CDD 634.61 O48e “Permitida a cópia total ou parcial deste documento, desde que citada a fonte – O autor” 3 To GOD, source of perseverance and life. I THANK To my parents Célia Regina Chiaradia de Oliveira and João Messias de Oliveira, and to my brother Rafael Chiaradia Oliveira by affection, encouragement and support in my personal and professional training. I DEDICATE AND THANK To Prof. Dr. Gilberto José de Moraes For his valuable guidance, dedication, confidence, friendship and opportunity to carry out this work. SPECIALTHANKS 4 5 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS To Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – CAPES, for the financial support provided for the first year of this research in Brazil; To Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo – FAPESP, for the financial support that made possible my activities within the ―Sandwich Doctorate‖ program, conducting my work in Brazil and Thailand (Processes BEPE 2012/ 08148-4 and 2012/ 00929-7); To Escola Superior de Agricultura ―Luiz de Queiroz‖ (ESALQ), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), and especially to ―Departamento de Entomologia e Acarologia‖ for providing all intellectual and material support necessary for the proper development of this work; To all professors of ―Departamento de Entomologia e Acarologia - ESALQ/ USP‖, for all the knowledge they provided me, which greatly contributed to my professional training; I am especially grateful to Dr. Carlos H. W. Flechtmann (ESALQ/ USP, Brazil), retired Full Professor of ESALQ/ USP, for all the knowledge and many suggestions as well as for providing numerous scientific literature; his help was of fundamental importance to my work; To Dr. Angsumarn Chandrapatya, Full Professor of the Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Thailand, for advising me during the period of one year I worked in Thailand, as a student, providing me all the support need in her laboratory; To my Thai friends Dr. Wanida Auamcharoen, Dr. Patchareewan Maneesakon, Dr. Atirach Noosidum, Dr. Ploychompoo Konvipasruang, Dr. Manita Kongchuensin, Dr. Suraphol Chandrapatya and specially Dr. Suradet Buttachon for the friendship, companionship and all the support provided in Thailand; To the Associate Professors Dr. Wiwat Suasa-ard and Kosol Charernsom, for providing me the space and logistical support for the conduction of part of my work; 6 To the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) for authorizing my study in that country; To Dr. Sivapragasam Annamalai, of CABI Malaysia, and Dr. Dilipkumar Masilamany, of the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), for the support during the survey conducted in Malaysia; To Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA) Roraima, for allowing me to conduct part of my work in Boa Vista, providing me the space and all infra-structure; To Dr. Elisangela Gomes Fidelis de Morais, researcher of EMBRAPA Roraima, for the invaluable help, receiving me and supervising me in her institution, providing all the support needed during part of this study; To colleagues of EMBRAPA Roraima for the friendship and support; To Prof. Dr. Manoel Guedes Correa Gondim Jr., Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco – UFRPE, for the support and continuous and strong encouragement in my academic activities; To my friends of the Acarology Laboratory, ESALQ/USP, Dr. Ana C. Cavalcante, Dr. Aníbal R. Oliveira, Dr. Carlos Vásquez, Diana M. Rueda, Dr. Edmilson S. Silva, Dr. Érika P. J. Britto, Fernanda de C. N. Esteca, Fernando R. da Silva, Dr. Geraldo J. N. de Vasconcelos, Dr. Grazielle F. Moreira, Jandir C. Santos, João Paulo Z. Narita, Juliano A. Freitas, Leocádia S. Martinez, Letícia H. Azevedo, Marina F. C. Barbosa, Paula C. Lopes, Dr. Peterson R. Demite, Dr. Raphael C. Castilho, Renan V. da Silva, Dr. Renata A. P. Freire and Dr. Tatiane M. M. G. Castro for their help, support and friendship; To Lásaro V. F. da Silva (ESALQ/USP), for the logistic support, laboratory help and friendship; 7 To the laboratory and administrative staff members of ―Departamento de Entomologia e Acarologia‖, ESALQ/USP, Andréa Varella Sintoni, Carolina D. Jorge, Josenilton L. Mandro, Maria Marta Coletti and Regina C. B. de Moraes; To colleagues of ―Departamento de Entomologia e Acarologia‖, ESALQ/USP, specially to Daniel Bernardi and Dr. Oderlei Bernardi for the support and friendship; To colleagues Dr. Alécio Souza Moreira and Dr. Mauro Ferreira Bonfim Jr. for the encouragement and friendship; To my friends Bárbara C. Moreira, Daniel Soares, Helenilson J. S. Boniares, Henrique O. Borges, José R. R. Neto and specially Ana Alice R. Sampaio for the friendship, companionship and all the support provided during my staying in Boa Vista, Roraima. To all the members of my family, for their support, encouragement and friendship; and for those who in one way or another helped me in this work. 8 9 CONTENTS RESUMO ................................................................................................................................. 13 ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................. 15 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 17 References ................................................................................................................................ 19 2 PHYTOSEIIDAE OF THAILAND (ACARI: MESOSTIGMATA), WITH A TAXONOMIC KEY FOR THEIR IDENTIFICATION .......................................................... 21 Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... 21 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 21 2.2 Material and Methods ......................................................................................................... 22 2.3 Results ................................................................................................................................ 22 2.3.1 AMBLYSEIINAE Muma ................................................................................................ 23 2.3.1.1 Amblyseiulella amanoi Ehara ....................................................................................... 23 2.3.1.2 Amblyseius cinctus Corpuz-Raros and Rimando .......................................................... 24 2.3.1.3 Amblyseius eharai Amitai and Swirski ........................................................................ 25 2.3.1.4 Amblyseius herbicolus (Chant) ..................................................................................... 26 2.3.1.5 Amblyseius hidakai Ehara and Bhandhufalck .............................................................. 27 2.3.1.6 Amblyseius largoensis (Muma) .................................................................................... 27 2.3.1.7 Amblyseius paraaerialis Muma .................................................................................... 28 2.3.1.8 Amblyseius tamatavensis Blommers ............................................................................ 29 2.3.1.9 Euseius aizawai (Ehara and Bhandhufalck) ................................................................. 31 2.3.1.10 Euseius neofustis Moraes and McMurtry ................................................................... 32 2.3.1.11 Euseius nicholsi (Ehara and Lee) ............................................................................... 32 2.3.1.12 Euseius okumae (Ehara and Bhandhufalck) ............................................................... 33 2.3.1.13 Gynaeseius sp. ............................................................................................................ 33 2.3.1.14 Neoseiulus baraki (Athias-Henriot)............................................................................ 34 2.3.1.15 Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes ......................................................................................... 35 2.3.1.16 Neoseiulus imbricatus (Corpuz-Raros and Rimando) ................................................ 38 2.3.1.17 Neoseiulus longispinosus (Evans) .............................................................................. 39 2.3.1.18 Neoseiulus taiwanicus (Ehara)