Peer-Reviewed Article January 31, 2012
Mites Associated with the Red Palm Weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliver in Saudi Arabia with a Description of a New Species
Are you an author of this work?Link to your sovereign AfriScholar profile
Published in: Acarines: Journal of the Egyptian Society of Acarology
Publisher: Egyptian Society of Acarology (J.E.S.A) • Egypt • 1687-4633 • 2090-3790
Abstract
The red palm weevil (RPW) Rhynchophorus fcrrugincus Oliver is an economically important pest of palm in Al-Hassa (Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia). The RPW was noted associated with mites during May--June 2009. Three mite species were found. One of which Aegyptus alhassa n. sp. (Gamasida, Trachyuropodidae) as a parasite collected from eggs, larvae, pupae cocoons and under the elytron of insect adult was described. The second mite species Sejus sp. may feed on fungi or organic debris, while the acarid hypopial stage may feed on dead insects.