Incidence of dust mite, Oligonychus afrasiaticus on date palm in the Al-Qatif date palm oasis of Saudi Arabia

Date palm, Phoenix dactylifera L. is an important fruit crop in Saudi Arabia where the dust mite Oligonychus afrasiaticus (McGregor) (Acari: Tetranychidae) is becoming increasingly important as a pest of date palm. Trials were carried out during 2013 and 2014 to study the incidence of O. afrasiaticus in six date palm cultivars, two each in the early, mid-late and late maturing group of cultivars, grown in the Al-Qatif date palm oasis of Saudi Arabia. Results revealed that the incidence of mites was the least in the early maturing cultivars (Gaar and Bakerat) followed by the mid-late (Khalas and Khenizi) and late (Hilali and Bahree) cultivars. The incidence of mites was lower in the Khalal stage as compared to the Bisr stage of fruit development, except in the cultivar Hilali where the reverse was seen. Among the cultivars evaluated, the early maturing date cultivar Gaar recorded the least mite incidence while the late maturing cultivar Hilali recorded the highest incidence of dust mite.