Occurrence of Brevipalpus obovatus Donnadieu and Brevipalpus yothersi Baker (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) in basil plants in São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

Basil, Ocimum basilicum L., is a shrubby plant native from northern India. The literature is scarce in relation to arthropods associated with that plant species. Plants of no commercial cultivation were collected in different regions of the State of São Paulo, such as Botucatu, Campinas, São Paulo, São Pedro and Serra Negra municipalities. Mites recovered O. basilicum were mounted on permanent slides in Hoyer’s medium. In these plants were identified specimens of Brevipalpus obovatus Donnadieu and Brevipalpus yothersi Baker (Tenuipalpidae). This is the first report of both species O. basilicum plant in São Paulo.