The present work consisted of an evaluation of the reproductive compatibility between two populations of a predatory mite preliminarily identified as Iphiseiodes zuluagai Denmark & Muma, obtained from a commercial plantation of Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck. (Rutaceae) and from Syagrus romanzoffiana (Cham.) Glassman (Arecaceae) found in a forest area. The results of this study could indicate the possibility that the latter system could serve as a reservoir of I. zuluagai to the former. The colonies of I. zuluagai were maintained in a laboratory using the method described by Reis et al. (1988), at 25±1ºC, 85±5% of R.H. and 12h light: 12h dark. The reproductive compatibility was evaluated through crosses and back-crosses between mites of each colony and observations on their fecundity during 10 days. The heterogamic crosses and the back-crosses resulted in fertile progeny in proportions comparable to homogamic crosses. These results indicate that both tested populations belong to the same species, which suggest a possible positive role of S. romanzoffiana as reservoir of I. zuluagai, from which the predator could eventually re-colonize patches of cultivated plants.
Biosistematics; biological control; Citrus; phytoseid; Syagrus romanzoffiana
