Conservation biological control of pests may be achieved using a variety of integrated strategies based on crop diversification. We investigated whether the insertion of the intercropped plants species (IPS) Inga edulis, Senna macranthera, and Varronia curassavica modified the abundance of mites, their feeding behavior, and the dissimilarity of predator and herbivore mites over a gradient of distance from the IPS on coffee. To accomplish this, we recorded the mite species on coffee plants along transects of 16 m extending from the IPS, including on the IPS. A total of 8946 specimens were sampled. Tenuipalpidae was the most abundant family on coffee, followed by Tydeidae, while Eriophyidae was the most abundant on the IPS, followed by Phytoseiidae. The abundance and richness of mites differed between their feeding behavior and distance. The dissimilarity of predators and herbivores increased along a gradient of distance. Furthermore, the IPS harbored several mite species and the diversity of predator and herbivore mites among the IPS was different. The findings suggest that the intercropped plant species can attract and serve as a reservoir of predatory mites on coffee crops, which could improve the biocontrol of pest mites on coffee.

The intrinsic rate of natural increase of a population (r_m) has been in focus as a key parameter in entomology and acarology. It is considered especially important in studies of predators that are potential biological control agents of fast-growing pests such as mites, whiteflies and thrips. Life-table experiments under controlled laboratory conditions are standard procedures to estimater_m. However, such experiments are often time consuming and may critically depend on the precise assessment of the developmental time and the fecundity rate early in the reproductive phase. Using selected studies of predatory mites with suitable life-table data, we investigated whether and how measurements of growth rates can be simplified. We propose a new method for estimatingr_mfrom partial life tables, in which the researcher can choose a level of precision based on a stand-in measure of relative error. Based on this choice, the procedure helps the researcher to decide when a life-table experiment can be terminated. Depending on the chosen precision, significant amounts of experimental time can be saved without seriously compromising the reliability of the estimated growth parameter.

The aim of this study was to recognize the mite fauna associated with apple orchards in southern Brazil and present a dichotomous key of the species sampled and those already reported in apple trees in southern Brazil. The studies were carried out in the 2020/2021 harvest in seven apple orchards of the Eva, Fuji and Gala cultivars located in the municipalities of Muitos Capões, Antônio Prado (Rio Grande do Sul state) and São Joaquim (Santa Catarina state). The orchards were divided into quadrants and sampling was carried out monthly. In each orchard, 40 plants were sampled, with three leaves of each plant collected in apical, median and basal regions of a median branch. In addition, monthly five species of spontaneous plants per orchard were sampled. A total of 8,425 mites were found, with the greatest abundance in Antônio Prado (50%), followed by Muitos Capões (35.5%) and São Joaquim (14.5%). The specimens found belong to 29 families, 64 genera and 99 species, in addition to mites of the order Oribatida. The greatest diversity was found in spontaneous vegetation (59 species), being 19 exclusives to apple trees and 21 species common to apple trees and spontaneous vegetation. Phytoseiidae was the family that presented the greatest richness, with 16 species, of which seven were common in apple trees and spontaneous plants. The most abundant species was Aculus schlechtendali Nalepa (Eriophyidae) (39.5%), followed by Panonychus ulmi (Koch) (Tetranychidae) (14.6%), Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) (Tarsonemidae) (9.4%) and Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Phytoseiidae) (7.4%). These results suggest that the mite fauna present in apple orchards in different landscapes and management are distinct, with a greater diversity of phytoseiid mites present in organic areas. Therefore, to maintain a greater diversity of predatory mites in these orchards, organic management seems to be the most appropriate. Furthermore, the high acarine diversity found in spontaneous vegetation demonstrates the importance of maintaining these plants in orchards that serve as refuges and reservoirs, favoring the permanence of natural enemies in these environments.

The Brazilian Pampa is predominantly composed of native grasslands with riparian forest formations. It preserves a rich biodiversity and provides vast biological resources for economic uses. The objectives of this study were to compare the mite fauna composition on plants in three environments i.e. grassland, grazing exclusions, and riparian forest; to relate mites with microclimatic factors, and to evaluate interactions between mites and vascular plants. Data analysis was based mainly on the relationship between mite and plant species. A total of 117 mite species were collected, most of which were phytophagous (57%). Our studies revealed that mite communities from riparian forest differ from grazing exclusions and grasslands. Grassland and grazing exclusions were dominated by two species i.e. Brevipalpus sp2 and Tydeus californicus (Banks). In the riparian forest, the most abundant species was Lorryia formosa (Cooreman). In conclusion, mites represent environmental indicators of microclimatic factors and landscape. All the sampling sites had high interaction between mites and plants.

Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acari: Acaridae) has the potential for controlling pest insects in the laboratory, although little is known about its interaction with beneficial species such as bees. Here we report an infestation of T. putrescentiae and its predatory effect in colonies of the stingless bee Frieseomelitta varia (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini) in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. After the mite infestation, the F. varia colonies became weak and the population died. Because T. putrescentiae develops preferentially in warm and damp environments, special care should be taken when performing in vitro rearing (e.g., sterilizing transfer needles, tweezers, and incubators) of F. varia. Moreover, stingless bee colonies maintained in meliponaries should be periodically monitored, in order to prevent not only mite infestation but diverse health issues.

Four new species of eriophyoid mites (Acari: Trombidiformes: Eriophyoidea) were collected from native plant species from Pampa biome, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and are described and illustrated herein. They have been named: Aculus pampae sp. nov. on Elephantopus mollis Kunth (Asteraceae); Costarectus lanceatus sp. nov. on Sebastiania brasiliensis Spreng. (Euphorbiaceae); Dichopelmus sigfeminae sp. nov. and Rhynacus symflori sp. nov. both on Symplocos uniflora (Pohl) Benth. (Symplocaceae). All new species appeared to be vagrants and no apparent symptom was associated to them.