Mites (Arachnida, Acari) on ornamental plants in northwestern Sao Paulo, Brazil: occurrence and injury caused by phytophagous species

Mites (Arachnida, Acari) on ornamental plants in northwestern Sao Paulo, Brazil: occurrence and injury caused by phytophagous species. Phytophagous mites living on ornamental plants growing in parks. streets and residential gardens from Ilha Solteira. State of Sao Paulo, were studied. Leaves of 20 plant species were sampled and some specimens of the different morphospecies found were mounted in microscopy slides with Hoyer's medium for posterior identification under phase contrast microscope. Twenty three species belonging to 15 genera of eight families were recorded. From these, 13 species are phytophagous, nine are predator and one is of unknown feeding habits. The family Tetranychidae presented the highest richness, with nine species registered, being one of these recorded for the first time after the original description and another one being registered for the first time in Brazil. Lorryia formosa Cooremann, 1958 (Tydeidae) occurred on the highest number of hosts. The host plants that harbored the highest number of mite species were Lagerstroemia indica L., Mussaenda alicia Hort. and Tabebuia sp., with six species recorded on each.