The occurrence and distribution of Tuckerella japonica (Acari: Tuckerellidae) on tea bushes, Camellia sinensis and C. assamica, in Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina, USA.
Adults, immatures and eggs of Tuckerella japonica (Ehara) were collected from unknown clones or varieties of Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze tea bushes in the Clemson University Farm, Coastal Research and Education Center, Charleston, South Carolina; from Assam hybrids in The Caw Caw Nature Preserve in Ravenel, SC; from C. sinensis and C. assamica (Masters) in the Charleston Tea Plantation on Wadmalaw Island, SC; C. sinensis in the Fairhope Tea Plantation in Fairhope, Alabama; and from C. sinensis 'Rosea' and a C. sinensis and C. assamica hybrid in Savannah and Ellabell, Georgia, between 1994 and 2015. This mite was consistently collected from 1-, 2- and 3+-year-old wood of tea plants with significantly greater numbers collected from 2-year-old wood. All stages of the mite were found within longitudinally split areas of the wood where underlying green bark tissues were exposed. As 1-year-old wood matured, there was increased splitting of the bark with increased mite presence. Mature green fruit (= developing seed pods) of tea were also frequented by T. japonica between June-July and October and their numbers were no greater than those on 1- or 3+-year wood. When the fruit were small (March-May) or as they hardened in late fall, they were not suitable feeding sites for this mite. Very few T. japonica were collected from 50 mature, inner or outer leaf samples with none usually found. Tuckerella japonica has multiple, overlapping generations and occurs on tea throughout the year in Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina, USA.
Entomology and Nematology Department, Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, IFAS, 700 Experiment Station Road, Lake Alfred, FL, 33850, USA. ccc1957@ufl.edu.|, 26 Wood Sorrel Lane, Hendersonville, NC, 28792, USA. ccc1957@ufl.edu.
Carl C
CC
Childers
Entomology and Nematology Department, Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, IFAS, 700 Experiment Station Road, Lake Alfred, FL, 33850, USA.
Timothy A
TA
Ebert
Entomology and Nematology Department, Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, IFAS, 700 Experiment Station Road, Lake Alfred, FL, 33850, USA.
Michael E
ME
Rogers
Coastal Research and Education Center, Clemson University, 2700 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC, 29414, USA.
Merle
M
Shepard
D000053:Acari / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D000407:Alabama; D063147:Animal Distribution; D000818:Animals; D028244:Camellia / Q000469:parasitology*; D028241:Camellia sinensis / Q000469:parasitology; D020387:Food Chain; D005845:Georgia; D058865:Introduced Species; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D009758:Nymph / Q000502:physiology; D010063:Ovum / Q000502:physiology; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000469:parasitology; D011156:Population Density; D013022:South Carolina; D013045:Species Specificity
Phytophagous mite; Tetranychoidea; Theaceae