TY  - JOUR
JF  - Acarologia
T1  - More than weeds: non-crop plants shape predatory mite communities in banana systems
VL  - 66
IS  - 2
SP  - 377
EP  - 393
PY  - 2026
SN  - 0044-586X
SN  - 2107-7207
PB  - Les Amis d'Acarologia
AU  - González-Cano, Lina Marcela
AU  - Godoy, Lucas Lorena
AU  - Araujo Lacerda, José Dantas
AU  - de Carvalho Mineiro, Jeferson Luiz
AU  - Shigueaki Nomura, Edson
AU  - Sato, Mário Eidi
UR  - https://doi.org/10.24349/smsj-tqgo
DO  - 10.24349/smsj-tqgo
DA  - 2026-05-05
ET  - 2026-05-05
KW  - banana cultivars
KW  - community structure
KW  - diversity
KW  - Phytoseiidae
KW  - plant-mite associations
KW  - spontaneous vegetation
AB  - The role of spontaneous vegetation as an alternative habitat for natural enemies in agroecosystems is well recognized, but little is known about its contribution to predatory mites in banana plantations. This study evaluated the diversity, community structure, and plant-mite associations of predatory mites, with an emphasis on Phytoseiidae, on banana cultivars and spontaneous vegetation in a banana-growing region of São Paulo state, Brazil. Mites were sampled monthly throughout 2018 and 2019 from five banana cultivars (BRS Platina, BRS Princesa, Grand Naine, Prata Catarina and Terra Maranhão) and from the predominant spontaneous weed species within the plantation. Phytoseiidae diversity was assessed through species richness and Shannon diversity indices, while community composition was analyzed using non-metric multidimensional scaling and permutational multivariate analysis of variance. Plant–mite associations were explored through bipartite network analyses. A total of 25 phytoseiid species were recorded, with weeds harboring significantly higher species richness and diversity than banana cultivars. Community composition of Phytoseiidae differed between banana plants and weeds, indicating that non-crop vegetation supports distinct predatory mite assemblages rather than simply increasing the abundance of crop-associated species. In contrast, phytoseiid diversity did not significantly differ among banana cultivars, suggesting a limited influence of cultivar identity on predator assemblages. The most frequent species, including Amblyseius tamatavensis Blommers, Euseius concordis (Chant), Iphiseiodes zuluagai Denmark & Muma, and Amblydromalus limonicus (Garman & McGregor), are generalist predators known to exploit alternative food resources, which may explain their strong association with weeds. In addition to Phytoseiidae, several predatory Trombidiformes families (Cheyletidae, Bdellidae, and Cunaxidae) were also recorded, reinforcing the role of weeds in supporting a diverse predatory guild. Our results demonstrate that spontaneous vegetation plays a key role in maintaining diverse and compositionally distinct communities of predatory mites in banana agroecosystems. Although pest suppression was not directly assessed, the enrichment of predator diversity on weeds highlights their potential value in conservation biological control and supports the inclusion of non-crop vegetation in ecologically based management strategies for sustainable banana production. Additionally, this study presents the first record of Graminaseius bahiensis Ferragut & Carvalho since its original description and the first report of its occurrence outside of the state of Bahia, in São Paulo.
ER -