Steneotarsonemus ananas (Acari: Tarsonemidae): a complementary description from Australian pineapples and a new pest on Neoregelia spp. (Bromeliaceae) in Costa Rica

Abstract

The pineapple tarsonemid mite Steneotarsonemus ananas (Tryon), 1898 is associated with pineapple around the world, including Costa Rica. Here, we report its association with Neoregelia sp. (Bromeliaceae) for the first time. These mites damaged the plantlets considerably, affecting the esthetic quality of the product and thus causing economic losses to the local growers. This discovery prompted us to redescribe the adult females and males from the type host and locality (pineapple in Queensland, Australia) and compare it with the original description, subsequent descriptions, and material collected from the USA, Costa Rica, and Colombia on pineapple, Neoregelia, and an unidentified bromeliad. Further specimens from pineapple in Guatemala were identified as the same species and represent the first record for this country. We concur with previous observations that the original description by Tryon is not the same species in subsequent descriptions. We tentatively consider all specimens examined the same as those described as S. ananas in succeeding descriptions, i.e., Steneotarsonemus ananas Tryon sensu Beer.