Resumen

FLORES-GALANO, G; MONTOYA, A  y  RODRIGUEZ, H. BIOLOGY OF RAOIELLA INDICA HIRST (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) ON ARECA CATECHU L.. Rev. Protección Veg. [online]. 2010, vol.25, n.1, pp. 11-16. ISSN 2224-4697.

The development and reproduction of Raoiella indica on Areca catechu were studied under laboratory conditions at 25,42±1,21°C and 57,54±6,54% HR. The experimental units were leaf discs of A. catechu in Petri dishes (10,5 cm diameter) with water-saturated cotton. Gravid females were transferred to experimental unit and allowed to lay eggs for five hours. The duration of each life cycle stages were registered. The larvae that emerged were transferred to individual arenas and observed until adult appearance. The average duration of the life cycle was 31 days. The egg stage was the longest, while that of protonymphs was the shortest. The preoviposition period averaged 4 days, while the oviposition period can last 17 days, with an average of 11 days and a female longevity of 30 days. Sex ratio was 56% females. The mortality of immature stages was: 14,6% for larvae; 7,3% for protonymphs, and 17,1% for deutonymphs, with 39% total mortality.

Palabras llave : Raoiella indica; Areca catechu; red palm mite; development duration.