| Abstrakt: |
The rice mite, Steneotartsonemus spinki Smiley, has been considered a serious rice pest in several tropical Asian regions since 1970. However, it was in the Americas that S. spinki assumed its largest economic importance. Yield losses in Central America have ranged from 30 to 90%. Until now, S. spinki has not been found in other (South or North) American countries. Damage caused by S. spinki infestations can be direct, as a consequence of toxin injection during feeding, or indirect, through the spreading of phytopathogens. At first, rice (Oryza sativa L.) was considered its only host plant, but in Costa Rica, colonies were observed completing their life cycle on the invasive Oryza latifolia Desv., indicating its potential to adapt to other hosts, especially Oryza species. There are indications that S. spinki can be disseminated via trade of rice seeds or naturally by wind, insects or birds. In Central America integrated management of rice crops, involves mainly cultural methods and resistant varieties. The introduction and establishment of S. spinki in South and North America would probably imply a drastic reduction of rice productivity and an immediate increase of agrochemical applications for pest control. Therefore, it is essential to reinforce the use of quarantine measures in order to avoid or to delay the introduction of the mite pest into South and North America. The development of a contingency plan for rice mite management in the Americas is of vital importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
