First report of Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) occurring in the Ecuadorian Sierra on two Andean crops

Abstract

The presence of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch is recorded for the first time at the Ecuadorian Sierra, Province of Tungurahua, Ecuador. High populations and severe damages caused by this spider mite were found on Arracacia xanthorrhiza (arracacha) and Solanum muricatum (pepino dulce) leaves in the experimental orchard located in the Campus of the Universidad Técnica de Ambato. So far, this species had been reported in Ecuador only occurring on ornamental or conventional crops, thus its incidence on such Andean crop species opens a gate on research on other economic important crops in the Andes