Predacious mites in papaya (Carica papaya L.) orchards:: In search of a biological control agent of phytophagous mite pests

This study was conducted to search for potential mite predators to control phytophagous mites in papaya orchards. Bimonthly surveys, from January 1999 to February 2000, were carried out in two orchards, one in Silva Jardim (RJ), where pests are naturally controlled, and one at Linhares (ES), where pests are chemically controlled. All mite species collected from buds, new leaves, old leaves, and floral buttons of papaya trees and from weed leaves were quantified and identified to at least family level. Despite the relatively diverse mite fauna, we found representatives of only one family of predacious mites, i.e. Phytoseiidae. Among these, Neoseiulus idaeus Denmark & Muma was the most abundant and frequent during all seasons in the Linhares orchard, coinciding mainly with the fluctuations in abundance of tetranychid mites. Such occurrence in a production system with large use of acaricides, together with its favorable biological traits reported in the literature, lead us to recommend this species as a good candidate for biological control of papaya mite pests, especially Tetranychus urticae Koch.