Ecological parameters of mites associated with mango (Mangifera indica L.) cultivation in Ceiba del Agua, Artemisa, Cuba

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Rolando Herrera Nápoles
Surelys Baró Castilla
Doris Hernández Espinosa
Jorge Luis Rodríguez Tapia
Evi Rosana Estévez Terrero
Mirtha Borges Soto
Maylin Rodríguez Rubial

Abstract

With the aim of determining ecological parameters of mites associated with mango (Mangifera indica L.) cultivation, a study was conducted from March 2017 to October 2019. Thirteen species, within nine families, were taxonomically identified using specialized keys: nine phytophagous (Aceria mangifera Sayed; Aceria kenyae Keifer; Spinacus pagonis Keifer; Tetranychus urticae Koch; Oligonychus spp.; Tarsonemus sp.; Polyphagotarsonemus latus Banks; Brevipalpus sp.; and unidentified Acaridae), three predatory (Bdella sp.; Agistemus sp.; Phytoseiulus macropilis Banks), and one species with varied feeding habits (Tydeus sp.). Abundance and frequency of each species were evaluated, leaf surface preference (adaxial vs. abaxial) was determined using the Wilcoxon test, biodiversity indices were calculated, and the densities of phytophagous and predatory mites were correlated. S. pagonis, with values exceeding 30% abundance and 40% frequency, was the most abundant and frequent species in the three years. The mites showed a significant preference for the abaxial leaf surface (Wilcoxon test; p<0.05 for the most frequent species). The correlation between phytophagous and predatory mites was low but significant (r=0.57; p=0.03), evidencing a functional response of P. macropilis. Biodiversity indices revealed low diversity (Shannon H’=1.27-1.72; ENS=3.56-5.59) and high dominance (Simpson D=0.20-0.37), associated with anthropogenic disturbances under conventional management systems. These results stress the need for ecological strategies to control S. pagonis, a key species due to its impact on mango cultivation.

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1.
Herrera Nápoles R, Baró Castilla S, Hernández Espinosa D, Rodríguez Tapia JL, Estévez Terrero ER, Borges Soto M, Rodríguez Rubial M. Ecological parameters of mites associated with mango (Mangifera indica L.) cultivation in Ceiba del Agua, Artemisa, Cuba. Rev. Protección Veg. [Internet]. 2025 Nov. 17 [cited 2026 May 29];40:https://cu-id.com/2247/v40e23. Available from: https://censa.edicionescervantes.com/index.php/RPV/article/view/1458
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