New records of pathogenic fungi in mites (Arachnida: Acari) from Brazil

Abstract

During a study on the diversity of mites of agricultural importance, we made an inventory of pathogens infecting plant inhabiting and edaphic mites, mainly in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Several species of Eriophyoidea were found to be infected by Hirsutella sp. Resting spores of Entomophthorales were observed in mites of the following families: Ascidae, Phytoseiidae, Stigmaeidae, Tetranychidae and Tydeidae. A Cladosporium sp. infection was noted in the eriophyid Retracus johnstoni Keifer, a pest of the palm tree Syagrus romanzoffiana (Cham.) Glassman. The fungus was isolated and cultured in artificial medium. The possible use of the observed pathogens for microbial control purposes is discussed.