Biological characteristics of almond bud mite, Acalitus phloeocoptes (Nalepa) (Acari: Eriophyoidea) in Khorasan-e- Razavi Province

Almond, Prunus dulcis M. (Rosaceae) is one of the major orchard crops in Iran, which has main role in almond production in the world. One of the most important almond pests is bud gall mite, Acalitus phloeocoptes (Nalepa) with symptoms of buds dieback on two years old branches. In order to find out some important points in the life cycle of mite such as development times of immature, longevity and fecundity in Khorasan-e-Razavi Province, this study was carried out in almond orchards during 2013-2014. Laboratory studies were conducted at 25± 0.5°C, %60±5 relative humidity with 16:8h L:D. Mean development time of females and males were 16.8± 0.020, 16.57± 0.25 days, respectively. The female life time fecundity was 33.3±0.35 eggs. Female mean longevity was 15.57±0.25 while that of male was 10.53±0.12 days. A female generation time was 29.35-37.8 days while it took 28.85-36.6 days for male. Mites cause gall in the host plant bud scales and prevent their growth. The results showed that bud gall mite overwintered as second nymphal stage (protogyne) in galls and the first adults begin to move out of the galls in mid-March. Field studies showed that different developmental stages except for adults spent their life inside the gall. Swelling of buds's tissue occurred simultaneously with the beginning of the host's growth. Female oviposited from the early June to late May in the first and second years of study. The development times of immature stages were also determined. This pest was found in Sabzevar, Kashmar, Neyshabur, Torbat-e Jam and Torbat –e-Heydarieh. Meanwhile our investigation showed that, this mite causes gall on the plum trees (Prunus domestica) and apricot (Prunus armeniaca) too.