Diversity of Stigmaeidae family predatory mites in coffee agroecosystem and sensitivity of these mites to agrochemicals

• Grant number: 07/05048-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2007
• End date: December 31, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Mário Eidi Sato
• Grantee: Juliana Aparecida Vieira Gomes
• Host Institution: Instituto Biológico (IB). Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Coffee represents one of the crops of major social and economic importance in Brazil. Some species of pest mites such as Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) and Oligonychus ilicis (McGregor) cause significant damage to the crop in the country. The objective of this project is to provide basic information for the integrated management of pest mites in coffee plantations in the State of São Paulo. The specific objectives are: to study the diversity of predaceous mites of the family Stigmaeidae in coffee plantation (plants and leaf litter) in State of São Paulo; and to evaluate the sensibility of these predaceous mites to agrochemicals used in this crop. With this study, it will be possible to have a global view on the diversity of stigmaeid mites in coffee plantations in the State of São Paulo, as well as on the effect of the main agrochemicals used in this crop in Brazil. This kind of information is of fundamental importance for the implementation of Insect Pest Management in coffee plantations in the State of São Paulo.