Coconut Eriophyid Mite
Aceria guerreronis
📖 Description
Coconut Eriophyid Mite (CEM), first reported in India in 1997, has become one of the most damaging pests of coconut across peninsular India. The microscopic mites colonize tender nuts under the perianth, where they feed on the meristematic tissue, causing characteristic triangular necrotic patches, corky cracking, and deformation of the nut surface. Heavily infested nuts fall prematurely, and copra quality is severely reduced. The mites’ hidden feeding location under the perianth makes chemical contact difficult. Management relies on integrated approaches combining resistant varieties, biological control with predatory mites (Neoseiulus baraki), judicious use of neem-based products, and proper sanitation of infested bunches.
⚠️ Symptoms to watch for
- Triangular yellow-brown necrotic patches on the surface of tender nuts under the perianth, cracked and corky nut surface, deformed and undersized nuts, premature nut fall, reduced copra yield and quality, yield loss 30-70%
🩹 Treatment
- Spray neem oil 5ml/L + wetting agent on the crown and bunches, apply sulfur powder 5g/L, root-feed with monocrotophos (never on bearing palms), introduce predatory mites, remove and destroy affected bunches
🌿 Organic treatments
- Spray neem oil 5 ml/L + 1 ml sticker per L on crown and bunches, apply wettable sulfur 5 g/L, release predatory mites (Neoseiulus baraki), apply azadirachtin 1500 ppm @ 2 ml/L, remove and burn heavily infested tender bunches
🧪 Chemical treatments
- Root-feed with Monocrotophos 36 SL @ 5 ml + 5 ml water per palm (only on non-bearing palms; observe 45-day harvest interval), spray Triazophos 40 EC @ 2 ml/L on bunches, apply Spiromesifen 240 SC @ 1 ml/L
🛡️ Prevention
- Plant resistant varieties (Chowghat Orange Dwarf, West Coast Tall × COD hybrid), inspect nurseries and remove infested seedlings, avoid transporting seedlings from infested areas, conserve predatory mites, remove and destroy infested tender bunches, regular crown cleaning, intercrop with legumes to enhance predator habitat
🪴 Affected plants
- Coconut (all varieties), Occasionally Other Palms
🦋 Natural predators
- Neoseiulus baraki, Amblyseius spp., Predatory Thrips, Stethorus Beetles
🌱 Host plants
- Cocos nucifera
🔄 Lifecycle
- Females lay 20-50 eggs under the perianth of tender nuts.
- Eggs hatch in 3-5 days.
- Nymphs pass through 2 instars in 7-10 days.
- Adults live 15-30 days.
- Total life cycle 10-15 days; 20+ overlapping generations per year in tropical conditions.
- Mites disperse by wind and through seedling transport.
📅 Season
- Year-round, peaks Mar-Jun during hot dry period and Sep-Nov after monsoon
🔎 Appearance
- Microscopic worm-like mites, creamy-white to pinkish, with only two pairs of legs (unlike other mites which have four).
- They live in dense colonies under the perianth (calyx) of tender coconuts, invisible to the naked eye.
💥 Damage level
- High
🔁 Reproduction rate
- Rapid
🗺️ Geographic regions
- Indian Subcontinent
- Africa
- South America
- Caribbean
Have an Insect to Identify?
Upload or take a photo of an insect on your plant and our AI will identify it and recommend treatments.
📷 Diagnose from Image