The mite Tetranychus lintearius Dufour (Acarina: Tetranychidae): foreign exploration and introduction to Chile

Abstract

Foreign exploration of host-specific bioagents of the weed Ulex europaeus (gorse) carried out in 1996, resulted in the collection of the mite Tetranychus lintearius in USA (Hawaii) and Portugal (San Pedro de Muel). Under quarantine conditions in Chile, , both populations were reared for at least one generation and subjected to additional studies on their host-specificities. After quarantine procedures were completed, T. lintearius populations were authorized to be released in the field in Chile in 1997.