J. Ent. Acar. Res. Ser. II, 43 (1): 41-46 30 April 2011 GADI V.P. reDDY, roSALIe KIKucHI, JeneLYn e. reMoLonA New mite species associated with certain plant species from Guam Abstract - Several new mite species have been reported from certain plants from  Guam. Most remarkably, the spider mite, Tetranychus marianae (Prostigmata:  tetranychidae) and the predatory mite  Phytoseius horridus (Mesostigmata:  Phytoseiidae) (Solanum melongena) have been found on eggplant. the non- economically important species of Brevipalpus californicus(Banks) Prostigmata:  tenuipalpidae),Eupodes sp. (Acarina: eupodidae) and predator  Cunaxa sp.  (Prostigmata: cunaxidae) have been reported on guava (Psidium guajava L.).  Also, the non-economically important species Brevipalpus californicusProstigmata:  tenuipalpidae), Lepidoglyphus destructor (Astigmata: Glycyphagidae) and a predator  Amblyseius obtusus, species groupAmblyseius near lentiginosus (Mesostigmata:  Phytoseiidae), have been recorded on cycad (Cycas micronesica). Key words - Tetranychus marianae, new mite species, eggplant, cycad, guava,  pepper, Guam IntroDuctIon Spider mites are common pest problems on many plants around yards and gardens in  Guam and other parts of the uSA. Guam has been a transportation hub for several major  airlines and shipping companies, with extensive connections to other Pacific islands in  Micronesia, Asia, and the continental uSA. there are numerous direct flights from Guam  to cairns (Australia), Seoul (South Korea), Manila (Philippines), osaka/tokyo (Japan),  taipei (taiwan), Hawaii, and to other Micronesian islands, that raise concern about the  possibility of introducing mite species to Guam from other areas of current infestation.  the introduction of mite species reported in the above Asian countries to Guam would  increase the probability of their introduction into other areas of the uSA. Perhaps of  most concern is the presence of various spider mites and broad mites in Japan, taiwan  and Korea, which greatly increases the probability of their introduction to Guam, the  commonwealth of the northern Mariana Islands, and other islands of Micronesia given  the high flow of civilian, military and cargo traffic between these areas by direct air and  sea routes. Additionally, some of Guam’s food supply is directly imported from Asian  countries including, but not limited to the Philippines, Korea and Japan. While no such  Journal of entomological and Acarological research, Ser. II, 43 (1), 201142 work on mites in Guam has been done thus far, there is a possibility that mites may have  come in with such food shipments. Local farmers and producers have already brought  to our knowledge information about the occurrence of mites on vegetables and other  such crops. Because there have been no studies conducted on mites locally, we have no  knowledge as to what mites may be present in this region. consequently, surveillance of  phytophagous mites will allow local authorities in Guam, the cnMI, and elsewhere in  non-infested areas of the Pacific to take immediate action upon their discovery, thereby  lessening the chance of successful establishment and spread of the mites throughout the  region. therefore, surveillance work was initiated on Guam to record the incidence of  mites on various crop plants.  MAterIAL AnD MetHoDS the mites provided in vials were prepared by the following method. Leaves were  collected from the various agricultural plants, and taken back to the laboratory where  they were examined under a microscope. All mites occurring on a leaf were collected  with a small paint brush moistened with 70% ethanol, placed in a vial containing 5 ml  of 70% ethanol, labeled, and prepared for shipping. the vials with mites were sent to  Angela Marmont centre for uK Biodiversity, natural History Museum, London for  identification. reSuLtS Several new mite species, both of economically, and non-economically important  plants have been identified, and the presence of a predatory mite species confirmed.  these are shown in table 1.  1. Eggplant, (Solanum melongena) Specimen-1: the spider mite, Tetranychus marianaeMcGregor, 1950 (Prostigmata:  tetranychidae) was the dominant mite species recorded from the samples collected from  eggplant. the form of the aedeagus is an important character for confirming species  identity. However, the females conform to the redescription of T. marianae given in  Moraes et al. (1987).  Distribution: Widespread in the Pacific islands, e.g., the Marianas, from where it was  first described.  It has previously been recorded from eggplant on Guam (De Moraes et al., 1987) but disappeared until recently.  other distribution records include Australia,  Bahamas, central, South and north (Mexico, Florida) America, West Indies and  Southeast Asia. 43G.V.P. reddy et al.: new mite from Guam Significance: Tetranychus marianae is known as a pest of tomato and cotton, but also  occurs on a wide range of other plants, e.g., castor bean (Ricinus communis), passion  flower (Passiflora edulis), squash (Cucurbita maxima), Centrosema pubescens, sweet  potato (Ipomoea batatas), Merremia vitifolia and orchidaceae.  Spider mites feed on  leaf cell contents and feeding activity is indicated by the appearance of pale areas on  the upper leaf surface as chlorophyll is removed.   Table 1 - Mite species recorded on different host plants on Guam Scientific name Associated with Host plants / prey species Pest or Predatory Location with GPS points Tetranychus marianae  McGregor, 1950  (Prostigmata:  tetranychidae) eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) Pest Mangilao  (13.43°n,  144.80°e) Phytoseius horridusribaga,  1904 (Mesostigmata:  Phytoseiidae) eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) Predatory Mangilao  (13.43°n,  144.80°e) Brevipalpus californicus(Banks)  Prostigmata: tenuipalpidae) Guava (Psidiumguajava L.) Feed on higher  plants Yigo (13.54°n,  144.89°e) Cunaxa sp. (Prostigmata:  cunaxidae) Guava (Psidium guajava L.) Predatory Yigo (13.54°n,  144.89°e) Eupodes sp. (Acarina:  eupodidae) Guava (Psidium guajava L.) Many live in  soil and leaf  litter (not  regarded as  pests) Yigo (13.54°n,  144.89°e) Brevipalpus californicus(Banks)  Prostigmata: tenuipalpidae) cycad (Cycas micronesica  K.D. Hill) feed on higher  plants Dededo  (13°30.700’ n,  144°51.173’ e) Lepidoglyphus destructor (Schrank) (Astigmata:  Glycyphagidae) cycad (Cycas micronesica  K.D. Hill) Mites of  this genus  are common  inhabitants of  house dust and  stored food Merizo  (13°15.058’ n,  144°43.071’ e) Amblyseius obtusus species  group, Amblyseius near  lentiginosusDenmark  &Schicha (Mesostigmata:  Phytoseiidae) cycad (Cycas micronesica  K.D. Hill) predatory tamuning  (13°30.109’ n,  144°46.939’ e) Journal of entomological and Acarological research, Ser. II, 43 (1), 201144 Biology: the egg to adult life span lasted 10.73 ± 0.18 days, with a 92% survival. the  sex ratio was 81% females. the mean female longevity was 24.53 days and the daily  mean oviposition was 3.69 eggs / female. the intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was 0.172;  the finite rate of increase (X) was 1.187 individuals / female / day; the mean time span  of one generation (t) was 22.81 days; and the net rate of reproduction (r0) was 50.14  (noronha, 2006). Specimen-2: Phytoseius horridus species group (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae): Phytoseius horridus, most probably P. mayottae Schicha, were identified from adult  females. Phytoseiids are predominantly predators of other small arthropods, including pest species.   Phytoseius mayottae was originally described from specimens collected in Mayotte Island  (near Madagascar), but has also been recorded in Sri Lanka, the Seychelles, Vanuatu, new  caledonia and Australia.  Host plants include Acalypha sp., Curculigo sp., Flemingia strobilifera, Glycine javanica, Macroptilium atropurpureum, Psidium guajava, Turnera  sp. and Solanum melongena (De Moraes et al., 2004).  no information is available on  its biology and feeding preferences. 2. Guava (Psidium guajava) Spicemen-1: False spider mites, flat mites, Brevipalpus californicus (Banks) (Prostigmata:  tenuipalpidae): Description: tenuipalpids have been collected in most parts of the world.  they feed  on higher plants, usually on the under surface of the leaves.  they have long, needle- like cheliceral digits with which they pierce the epidermis and feed on the contents of  the underlying cells.  Some species are of economic importance.  Brevipalpus spp. have  been identified as pests of watermelons in Guam (Yudin, 1999). the submitted specimen  is morphologically close to B. californicus, a cosmopolitan species that is a pest of a  wide range of ornamental and agricultural crops, but differs slightly in the form of the  ventral ornamentation. Spicemen-2: Cunaxa sp. (Prostigmata: cunaxidae): Distribution:  Fast moving mites, found in a wide variety of habitats, e.g., on plants  (including crop species), shrubs and trees, and in moss, bark, soil and food stores.  they  prey on small arthropods, other mites and nematodes, including pest species (Smiley,  1992).   Spicemen-3: Eupodes sp. (order Prostigmata) Species of Eupodes have a worldwide distribution.  Many live in soil and leaf litter, but  some have been collected on grasses and other plants.  Available evidence indicates that  their diet is comprised of algae and fungi, and they are not regarded as pests.   45G.V.P. reddy et al.: new mite from Guam Spicemen-3: Bdellidae, larva (Prostigmata: Bdellidae) Bdellids have a worldwide distribution.  their diet, habits and habitats are like those of  the family cunaxidae (Smiley, 1992).  Some species have been investigated as control  agents of pest mites, insects and nematodes (Gerson et al., 2007). Spicemen-4: Ascinae adult female (Mesostigmata: Ascidae, subfamily Ascinae) Members of the predatory Ascinae are very diverse in biology and habitat, occurring, for  example, on plants and at the sea shore, in salt marshes, soil, humus, stored foods, and  bird, mammal and arthropod nests.  Species that live on plants prey on other invertebrates  or feed on fungi or pollen (Halliday et al., 1998). 3. Cycad (Cycas micronesica K.D. Hill) Spicemen-1:Lepidoglyphus destructor (Schrank) (Astigmata: Glycyphagidae): Glycyphagids and Lepidoglyphus have a worldwide distribution.  Mites of this genus  are common inhabitants of house dust and stored foods, e.g., oats, rye, linseed, rice and  dried fruit.  they also occur in outdoor habitats, e.g., grassland soil, and stacks of grain,  straw and hay.  they thrive in damp, humid conditions and feed on the microscopic fungi  that grow in such environments (Knülle, 1987). Spicemen-2: Amblyseius obtusus species group, Amblyseius near lentiginosus Denmark  &Schicha, adult female (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) Description: Members of this species group were originally collected from apple  trees and have subsequently been recorded on other plants, e.g., grapevines, Citrus sp.,  Ficus sp., strawberry, mango, Pinus radiata and Quercus sp.  they are known to prey  on pest mites, e.g., Panonychus citri (tetranychidae), and Tegolophus australis and  Phyllocoptruta oleivora (both eriophyidae), and have been evaluated as a biocontrol  agent (James et al., 2001)  AcKnoWLeDGMentS this project was supported by FY 2010 united States Department of Agriculture  (uSDA), Animal  and  Plant  Health  Inspection  Service  (APHIS),  cooperative  Agricultural Pest Survey (cAPS) Program Agreement#10-8510-1302-cA and FY  2009 u.S. environmental Protection AgencyStrategic Agriculture Initiative / Food  Quality Protection Act (FQPA) Grant Agreement #X8-00t32301-0. the authors thank  YolisaIshibashi, Pest Survey Specialist, uSDA, APHIS, PPQ, Honolulu, HI 96850 and  cindy Wire, Agriculture Program, uS ePA, region 9, San Francisco, cA 94105 for their  encouragement and support during all phases of the project. We also thank Anne Baker,  Angela Marmont centre for uK Biodiversity, natural History Museum, London for  Journal of entomological and Acarological research, Ser. II, 43 (1), 201146 identifying the species. In accordance with federal law and uSDA policy, this institution  is prohibited from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age,  or disability.  reFerenceS de MorAes g.j., McMurtrY, j.A. & BAker, e.A., 1987 - redescription and distribution of the  spider mites Tetranychus evansi and T. marianae. Acarologia, 28: 333-343.   de MorAes g.j., loPes P.c., FernAndo, l.c.P., 2004 - Phytoseiid mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae)  of coconut growing areas in Sri Lanka, with descriptions of three new species. Journal of Acarological Society of Japan, 13: 141-160. gerson u., sMileY r. l., ochoA r., 2003 - Mites (Acari) for pest control. Blackwell Publishing,  oxford, uK. hAllidAY r.B., wAlter d. e., lindQuist e.e., 1998 - revision of the Australian Ascidae (Acarina:  Mesostigmata). Invertebrate Taxonomy, 12: 1-54.   jAMes d.g., hAllidAY r.B., wAlter d.e., Proctor h.c., norton, r.A., colloFF M.j., 2001  - History and perspectives of biological mite control in Australian horticulture using exotic  and native phytoseiids. cSIro Publishing, collingwood, Australia, Acarology: Proceedings  of the 10th International congress: 436-443.  knülle w., 1987 - Genetic Variability and ecological adaptability of hypopus formation in a stored  product mite. Experimental and Applied Acarology, 3: 21-32. noronhA A.c.s., 2006 - Biological aspects of  Tetranychus marianae McGregor (Acari,  tetranychidae) reared on yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims f.flavicarpa Deg.)  leaves. RevistaBrasileira de Zoologia 23: 404-407. sMileY r.l., 1992 - the predatory mite family cunaxidae (Acari) of the world with a new  classification. West Bloomfield, Michigan, uSA, Indira Publishing House 356 pp. Yudin l.s., 1999 - crop Profile for Water melons in Guam. www.ipmcenters.org/cropprofiles/ docs/Guwatermelons.pdf.  gAdi v.P. reddY, rosAlie kikuchi, jenelYn e. reMolonA, Western Pacific tropical research  center, university of Guam, Mangilao, Guam 96923, uSA, e-mail: reddy@uguam.uog.edu Accepted 21 April 2011