Is Coconut Mite on the Declining Trend in Kerala?

The coconut mite, Aceria guerreronis (Keifer) has attained the status of a devastating pest of coconut in coconut growing parts of India during the later parts of 1990s. current study has evaluated the population trends of the mite on highly susceptible variety of coconut, Chowghat green dwarf for three years from 2011-2013 in Calicut University campus and surrounding areas. Estimation of population density of the mite was carried out by counting of mites in the meristematic zone of the infested nuts plucked from the trees at biweekly intervals. Annual seasonal fluctuation of the population density of the mite was observed with higher density during January