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The lychee erinose mite (LEM), Aceria litchii, is a serious pest of lychee. This tiny mite induces the formation of erinea, which are open galls with hypertrophic trichomes. Erinea can form on leaves, flowers, fruit, and other plant structures, hampering plant growth and yield. Four distinct types of erinea can be observed: light white (stage 01), white (stage 02), amber (stage 03), and dark erinea (stage 04). To date, it is unknown how and why A. litchii induces the formation of erinea on lychee plants.

Eriophyoid mites, also known as bud, gall, or rust mites, impact nearly all crops of economic importance, including food crops, timber, and ornamental plants. Currently, they are divided into three families (Phytoptidae, Eriophyidae and Diptilomiopidae) with an estimated one million species, of which just over 5600 have been described.

Brevipalpus yothersi is the main vector of Cileviruses (CiLV-C and CiLV-C2) that cause citrus leprosis disease in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and other places in South and Central America. This mite is also present in Florida, where it was recently found vectoring a strain of Citrus leprosis virus 2 (CiLV-C2H) that infects hibiscus. Management of B. yothersi has been focused on chemical control, however, reports of B. yothersi resistance to acaricides indicate the need for an integrated pest management approach.

Brevipalpus-transmitted viruses (BTVs) cause economically important diseases such as citrus leprosis, widespread in Latin America, and coffee ringspot, found mainly in Brazil. One BTV, the orchid fleck virus, has a worldwide distribution infecting orchids.

Ambrosia beetles spend most of their life inside galleries built on host trees. They use the xylem as a substrate for farming symbiotic fungi, carried in specialized sac-like structures called mycangia. Most of their symbionts offer no threat to plants. However, some of these symbionts are phytopathogens that infect avocado (Persea americana) and other plants in the family Lauraceae. Raffaelea lauricola is a fungal pathogen vectored by several species of ambrosia beetles in the United States. It is the causal agent of laurel wilt, a deadly disease affecting avocado and forest ecosystems in Florida. The cryptic living habits of the ambrosia beetles make their management challenging. Conventional insecticide and fungicide applications have not been successful so far. This system requires novel IPM strategies.

The Lychee Erinose Mite (LEM) (Aceria litchii (Keifer)) is a gall-making eriophyid that feeds exclusively on lychee trees (Litchi chinensis Sonnerat), inducing the development of open leaf galls called erinea. Erinea are structures formed of hypertrophic leaf trichomes where LEM seeks refuge, feeds and reproduces.

Brevipalpus yothersi Baker (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) is an important mite species inhabiting citrus crops. This mite is the vector of Citrus leprosis virus (CiLV), which causes leprosis disease.

The lychee erinose mite (LEM) (Aceria litchii) is an important pest of lychee. This minute mite prefers to feed on young new flush, causing the formation of hypertrophic trichomes, known as erinea. In Brazil, LEM has been reported to cause 80% yield reduction.

Citrus leprosis diseased caused by citrus leprosis virus (CiLV) is considered one of the most destructive diseases of citrus. The putative vectors (Brevipalpus spp.) are present in the major citrus producing states in the U.S.A. Recently, Citrus leprosis virus C2 (CiLV-C2) Hibiscus strain, a virus with a high degree of homology with CiLV, was found infecting hibiscus in Florida and Hawaii. Hibiscus is an important ornamental plant generating over $21 billion (2010–2015) for the Florida nursery industry. We studied the presence of the CiLV-C2 vector Brevipalpus yothersi on hibiscus hedges located in south Florida to determine if hibiscus could be a reservoir for leprosis vectors and if predators and environmental conditions affect the population dynamics of the vector. For two years, samples were taken monthly from 3 hibiscus hedges. All Brevipalpus mites and known predatory mites were counted from three locations in the canopy (top, middle and bottom). Weather data was collected from local weather stations. Brevipalpus mites were always found on hibiscus but in very low numbers. The populations of B. yothersi were similar in all areas of the canopy but were different at the three locations. Humidity and precipitation did not explain changes in B. yothersi populations. Brevipalpus yothersi growth rate increased with temperature with a predicted peak at 26.1°C. Predators populations increased with increases in B. yothersi population. Hibiscus hedges appear to serve as a reservoir for predators. Higher temperatures that could occur with climate change could lead to an exponential increase in the abundance of B. yothersi.

The invasion of the Red Palm Mite (RPM), Raoiella indica, in the western hemisphere, is probably the most extensive, fastest, and better-documented plant pest arthropod invasion in recent decades. RPM was initially detected in the Lesser Caribbean Antilles, and it rapidly spread hooping through the islands and reaching continental areas in North, Central and South America.