Notes on the Citrus Rust Mite, Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Ashmead), as a Major Pest of Citrus in Indonesia

In early 2016, world citrus production reached 124,246.0 thousand tons. The two biggest citrus production countries, China and Brazil, contributed 32,705.9 and 16,555.1 thousand tons, respectively (FAO, 2017). In 2019, citrus production in Indonesia was around 2.77 million tons. From 2015 to 2019, citrus production was estimated to increase at 3.64% per year (Pusat Data dan Sistem Informasi Pertanian, 2015). Citrus production was significantly increased over the last six years due to the agricultural intensification and the expansion of citrus plantations across Indonesia. A massive 8,000% expanded the citrus production in West Kalimantan. In contrast, in the other prominent citrus producing regions, including North Sumatra (Medan), East Java (Malang), and South Sumatra, it was expanded by about 500%, 900%, and 5,000%, respectively. In South Sulawesi, the fruit production was only slightly increased, 100% (Morey, 2007). Various types of pests, vertebrates, and invertebrates attack citrus plantations in different parts of the world and cause severe economic losses. In this regard, arthropods are the most injurious biological stressors, mainly phytophagous insects and mites (Vacante, 2010). Mites belong to the class Arachnida, and to date, more than 50,000 species have been identified (Gerson & Weintraub, 2011). Several species of mites are pests of citrus, especially those belonging to the families Tetranychidae, Tenuipalpidae, Tarsonemidae, and Eriophyidae. Most of them are generalist herbivores, except for the members of the Eriophyidae (Gerson, 2003). Superfamily Eriophyoidea (Acari: Prostigmata) is one of the taxa with high diversity. All eriophoyid mites are phytophagous, and are generally specialists with a limited host range. In infested plants, they cause a wide variety of ARTICLE INFO