FAUNISTIC ANALYSIS OF PHYTOSEIID MITES ON PHYSIC NUT AND SPONTANEOUS PLANTS ASSOCIATED

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) stands out as a supplier of raw material of good quality for the production of biodiesel. Pest mites cause significant damage to this crop. The predatory mites of the family Phytoseiidaeare best known worldwide and more used in the biological control of pest mites. The faunistic analysis provides knowledge of the dynamics of species found in a given place and time. The objective of this work was to analyze the fauna of mites of the family Phytoseiidae determining dominance, abundance and frequency of species, and the diversity and evenness of these species in the culture of physic nut and associated weeds. Monthly collections were made totaling 12 months.For the sampling of mites wild plants, were first made??15 plots of 9m² (3m x3m). We collected 10 leaves from each plant species, with the exception of monocots were 20.In order to collect the physic nut 30 plants were selected, and collected nine leaves each. For analysis, we used the ANAFAU softwear. Mites Amblyseius sp., Typhlodromalus aripo, Typhlodromalus clavicusand, and Typhlodromips mangleae stood out both in physic nut as weeds. Predators T.aripo was dominant in the weeds and T. clavicus was super dominant in physic nut.   KEY-WORDS: diversity of species, Jatropha curcas L., Phytoseiidae, predator.