Coconut mite (Aceria guerreronis) is a pest that damages coconuts. The adult coconut mite is very small, measuring 255 and 52 micrometers in length and width, respectively. We cannot see it with the naked eye and live in groups that look like silver spots. A 10x (10 power) lens is required for normal eye observation.
Coconut mite damage
Coconut mites complete the life cycle in 7-10 days in four stages, mainly adult, two larval stages and an egg stage. Growing in such a short period of time causes the mite population to spread rapidly. Mites feed by piercing the surface tissue of the coconut and sucking the sap.
Coconut mites – Aceria guerreronis
The release of predatory mites into the field is recommended for biological control of coconut mites. This predatory mite species of “Neocylus barakai”, is mass-multiplied at a specialized breeding center and released to growers for release into damaged trees.
Predatory mites – Neocylus barakai
Predation
While coconut mites are not completely destroyed by predatory mites, coconut mites can be expected to minimize damage to the crop by sucking the juice from the fruit.