Further studies on the mango bud mite, Aceria mangiferae (Sayed), in Egypt (Acarina:Eriophyidae).
Wafa A. K., Osman A. A.
Author Affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Egypt.
Bulletin de la Societe Entomologique d'Egypte 57 : 441-445
Abstract : Studies were carried out on mango in Egypt in specially planted experimental plots to investigate the relation between infestation by Aceria mangiferae Sayed [cf. RAE/A 62, 2789] and stunting of the buds and malformations of the infloresences. The seedlings were infested artificially or were inarched with highly infested trees. The mites were found beneath the leaf scales of the terminal buds, where they sucked the sap and caused the buds to dry up. Lateral buds developed to compensate, but these, too, were quickly infested. Heavy infestations resulted in weakened trees and very low yields. Peak numbers of A. mangiferae were generally present in February (during the flowering season) and September (when vegetative growth occurred). It was estimated that damage resulted when populations of the mite exceeded about 33/bud.