First record and characteristics of damage caused by the spider mite Tetranychus neocaledonicus André on peanuts in the State of Paraíba, Brazil.

• Main Author: SILVA, C. A. D. da
• Publication Date: 2016
• Other Authors: GONDIM JÚNIOR, M. G. C.
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Repositório Institucional da EMBRAPA (Repository Open Access to Scientific Information from EMBRAPA - Alice)
• Download full: http://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/alice/handle/doc/1066023
• topic: Spider mites; Amendoim; Tetranychidae; Arachis Hypogaea; Praga; Aranha; Peanuts

The red spider mite Tetranychus neocaledonicus André (Acari: Tetranychidae) is commonly found on cotton and castor bean in Brazil, especially in the northeast, but to date it had not been found damaging cultivated peanut. The objective of this research was to record the occurrence of this mite on peanut plants and describe its damage on this Fabaceae. The peanut plants, when infested by this mite, exhibit initially small whitish spots on the leaves, which quickly develop to chlorotic spots, followed by silvering, drying and fall because of their feeding. The severity of the damage caused to peanut and the adaptability of the mite to warm and dry conditions indicate that this species has potential as peanut pest in northeastern Brazil.