Studies on the biology and ecology of the coconut mite eriophyes guerreronis Keifer (acari, eriophyidae) in Tanzania

Studies on the biology and ecology of the coconut mite eriophyes guerreronis Keiter were conducted between September 1992 and December 1993. Under the laboratory conditions of 27-32ºC and 80% relative humidity the total developmental period was 8.2± 1.2 days. The sex ratio was 1 mals to 9 females. Pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition periods took 2.3 ±0.5, 9.6 ± 1.0 and 5.2 ±1.1 days respectively. Fecundity was 12.2 ± 3.8 eggs. Adult females and males lived for 16.6 ± 2.2 and 8.4 ± 2.1 days respectively. Decline of the coconut mite population in the field was associated with heavy rainfall. Field surveys conducted in Tanga, coast, Dar es Salaam, Lindi, Mtwara, Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia revealed that the coconut mite than their parent palms. Anthropods from families, Coccidate (Homoptera), Tarsonemidae (acari), Phytoseildae (acari), and Tenuipalpidae (acari) were occasionally found to be associated with the coconut mite. With the exception of coccidae sp others were found in small numbers.