Abstrak/Abstract |
Red palm mite, Raoiella indica Hirst (Acari: Tenuipalpidae), has emerged as a new threat to coconut plantation in Indonesia. To control this mite, understanding on its biology is essential. The effects of three coconut varieties (Salak Dwarf, Local Sumenep Tall, and Hybrid coconuts) on the development and fecundity of R. indica were determined under laboratory conditions at 26?28oC, 80% RH, and photoperiod of 12:12 (L:D). The life cycle of R. indica consisted of the egg, larva, protonymph, deutonymph, and adult stages. Total development time of immature females was significantly influenced by coconut varieties. The shortest immature developmental time occurred at Salak Dwarf variety (26.07 days), whereas no significant difference of development time of immature female on Hybrid and Local Sumenep Tall varieties was found. Moreover, there was also no significant difference on the development time of immature male and on the fecundity of the mite among different coconut varieties.
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