Injury to Citrus by the Mite Brevipalpus phoenicis12

Abstract

Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) (sometimes called the false spider mite), is worldwide in distribution. It has been reported from citrus in the United States (Florida and Texas), Mexico, Cuba, Trinidad, Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Aden, Ethiopia, Egypt, Spain, Syria, India, and the Philippines. With the exception of the citrus rust mite, Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Ashmead), this is the most frequently encountered mite in unsprayed or occasionally sprayed Florida citrus groves (Muma 1965). On citrus, it is often associated with B. californicus(Banks) and B. obovatus Donnadieu, but unlike them, it does not produce leprosis (Knorr 1968). B. phoenicis has been suspected, however, of causing swellings on citrus stems (“Brevipalpus gall”), dropping of leaves (“halo scab”), and foliar chlorosis (“phoenicis blotch”) (Knorr and Malaguti 1960, Knorr et al. 1960).