Occurrence of Centrouropoda almerodai and Uroobovella marginata (Acari : Uropodina) phoretic on the Red Palm Weevil in Malta

Abstract

The unwanted introduction of the Red Palm Weevil (RPW) coincides with the spread in Malta of two species of Uropodid mites associated with this weevil. Usually, adult RPW carry phoretic forms of C. almerodai which are attached to the underside of elytrae, and U. marginata that prefers exposed surfaces of sternum, pygidium, head and legs. These mites use adult RPW to abandon dead palms and to colonize newly infested host-plants. Their role as plant pests is however negligible. Even the plant pathogen conidia, Curvularia which are carried by the mites, seem unable to germinate in palms under laboratory conditions. Both Centrouropoda almerodai and Uroobovella marginata are established in the Maltese Islands.