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Morphological variation and reproductive incompatibility of three coconut-mite-associated populations of predatory mites identified as Neoseiulus paspalivorus (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

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Abstract

Predatory mites identified as Neoseiulus paspalivorus DeLeon (Phytoseiidae) have been considered as agents for classical biological control of the coconut mite, Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Eriophyidae), in Africa and elsewhere. Preliminary identification of geographically distinct populations as belonging to the same species (N. paspalivorus) was based on their morphological similarity. However, laboratory studies recently conducted have shown large differences in feeding behaviors and biological characteristics among individuals collected from three geographic origins: Brazil (South America), Benin and Ghana (West Africa). As morphologically similar specimens do not necessarily belong to the same species, we evaluated under laboratory conditions, reproductive compatibility between the specimens from three geographic locations to ascertain their conspecificity. Morphological measurements were also made to determine whether there is a means of discriminating between them. Inter-population crosses showed complete reproductive isolation between the three geographic populations, but interpopulation discontinuities in morphometric characters were absent. These results indicate that the tested specimens are distinct biological entities despite morphological similarity. Further molecular genetic studies are therefore proposed, including screening for endosymbionts and assessment of genetic differentiation, to determine the cause of reproductive incompatibility and to clarify the taxonomic relationship between those populations.

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Acknowledgments

We thank R. Houndafoche, P. Sovimi, C. Kededji and B. Bovis for their assistance in maintaining the predator colonies and conducting experiments. We also thank A. Onzo, D. Gnanvossou and M. Toko for their encouragements and advices. Many thanks go to Sam Korie for providing assistance on the statistical analysis of the data, and to Fabien Hountondji for his comments on the manuscript. The authors also thank M.G.C. Gondim Jr, for helping to locate and for supplying the specimens of N. paspalivorus from Brazil. This research was supported by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, through a grant from the Board of the Netherlands Foundation for the advancement of Tropical Research (WOTRO). This study is part of a PhD thesis of the senior author.

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  1. Rachid Hanna

    Present address: Humid Forest Ecoregional Center, BP 2008 (Messa), Yaoundé, Cameroon

Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, 08, BP 0932, Cotonou, Benin, West Africa

    Nazer Famah Sourassou, Rachid Hanna, Ignace Zannou & Koffi Negloh

  2. Depto Entomologia e Acarologia, Escola Superior de Agricultura. “Luiz de Queiroz”, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, 13418-900, Brazil

    Gilberto de Moraes

  3. Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Kruislaan 320, 1098 SM, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Nazer Famah Sourassou, Ignace Zannou, Koffi Negloh & Maurice W. Sabelis

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  1. Nazer Famah Sourassou
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Correspondence to Nazer Famah Sourassou.

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Famah Sourassou, N., Hanna, R., Zannou, I. et al. Morphological variation and reproductive incompatibility of three coconut-mite-associated populations of predatory mites identified as Neoseiulus paspalivorus (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Exp Appl Acarol 53, 323–338 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-010-9413-5

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