Agro-ecological diversification may increase natural biodiversity and decrease environmental impacts caused by the intensification of management practices, especially with respect to pest control. ...This study aimed to evaluate mite populations from surveys in commercial coffee (Coffea arabica) orchards managed in different ways. Four different cropping systems were compared: a conventional system (CS), non-pesticide system (NPS), organic system (OS) and organic agroforestry system (OAS). Mite samples were taken from 24 coffee plantations (n = 6 for each management strategy). Six leaves per plant were collected from five sampling sites totalling 30 leaves from each plantation. Mites were removed from individual leaves, counted and identified to family level. Amongst the predatory mites, two families were detected; the Phytoseiidae was the most abundant family while the Stigmaeidae, generalist predatory mites, were only found in two management systems (NPS and AOS). Of the two families of phytophagous mites, the family Tenuipalpidae was the most abundant, but rarely found in AOS. The other phytophagous family, Tetranychidae, was less abundant in coffee crops than Tenuipalpidae, but the most abundant phytophagous family in CS. Understanding the relationship between mite populations and management practices can aid in choice of spraying strategies for different coffee management systems.
Paulo et al cite that the use of genetically modified insect-resistant crops (GM) with the gene from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that express toxic proteins is an efficient means to control pests. ...Among these, Bt maize is the most widely grown crop. The two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), an organism non-targeted by the Bt maize protein, is one of the most important polyphagous pests in agriculture. It is probable then that the Cry protein can be transferred from the mites to the third trophic level, the predators. The predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus McGregor (Acari: Phytoseiidae) feeds on mites of the family Tetranychidae and can acquire the Cry protein by ingesting T urticae mites that feed on Bt plants
Most studies on ecological impact of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation generally focus on plants. However, UV radiation can also affect organisms at other trophic levels. Protection against mortality ...induced by solar UV has, therefore, been hypothesized as one of the reasons why Typhlodromalus aripo hides in the apex of cassava plants during the day and comes out at night to prey on spider mites on leaves. In laboratory experiments using UV lamps, we determined the impact of UVA and UVB radiation on survival and oviposition of two leaf-inhabiting mites (Amblydromalus manihoti, Euseius fustis) and the apex-inhabiting mite (T. aripo), all three species being predators used for controlling the cassava green mite Mononychellus tanajoa in Africa. Whereas on leaf discs UVA has no negative impact on survival of the three predators, UVB is lethal to all of them. In contrast, nearly 85% of T. aripo survived after exposure to UVB inside apex of cassava plants. Exposure of A. manihoti and E. fustis to UVB radiation on the lower surface of a cassava leaf resulted in 36% survival. Oviposition and hatching of eggs laid after exposure to UVB were not affected, but eggs directly exposed to UVB did not hatch. Although caution should be exercised to extrapolate laboratory studies to the field, our results support the hypothesis that lower side of leaves, but especially plant apices, represent refuges that protect predatory mites from UVB. This might explain why T. aripo moves out of the apex to forage on leaves only during the night.
The cultivation of tropical fruit trees has grown considerably in the state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil. Some of these have been severely attacked by phytophagous mites, which are usually ...controlled by the use of chemical pesticides. However, there is today a growing interest for the adoption of less aggressive measures of pest control, as for example the use of predatory mites. Most of the plant-inhabiting predatory mites belong to the family Phytoseiidae. The objective of this paper is to report the phytoseiid species found in an intensive survey conducted on cultivated tropical fruit trees in fifteen localities of the southern coast of Bahia. Measurements of relevant morphological characters are provided for each species, to complement the understanding of the morphological variation of these species. Twenty-nine species of sixteen genera were identified. A key was elaborated to assist in the separation of these species. Fifteen species are reported for the first time in the state, raising to sixty-six the number of species of this family now known from Bahia. Seventy-two percent of the species collected belong to Amblyseiinae, followed by Typhlodrominae (21%) and Phytoseiinae (7%). The most diverse genus was Amblyseius. Amblyseius operculatus De Leon was the most frequent and abundant species. Studies should be conducted to evaluate the possible role of the most common predators as control agents of the phytophagous mites co-occurring with them.
The predatory mite Typhlodromus bagdasarjani Wainstein and Arutunjan (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is an indigenous and widespread species of the Middle East fauna. In this paper we assess the effect of ...temperature on developmental rate and reproduction potential of T. bagdasarjani under laboratory conditions. The development of this species was determined at 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 37.5 ± 1°C, 60 ± 10% RH and L16:D8 h photoperiod. The total developmental time averaged 28.2, 15.0, 8.9, 7.6, 7.2 and 7.4 days at 15–37.5°C, respectively, when feeding on immature stages of two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch. The lower developmental threshold (T 0 ) and thermal constant (K) for the development of this predator were estimated 9.2°C and 162 degree-days by the Ikemoto linear model. The life table parameters were estimated at 15–35°C. The shortest life span of females at 35°C was 45.0 days, followed by 50.7, 50.9, 103.3 and 136.8 days at 30, 25, 20 and 15°C, respectively. Mated females laid on average 19.9, 26.3, 41.1, 39.6 and 31.3 eggs per female at 15–35°C, respectively. The intrinsic rate of increase (r m ) and finite rate of increase (λ) increased significantly with increasing temperature. The r m values ranged from 0.021 (15°C) to 0.186 (35°C) days−1. The highest value of net reproductive rate (R 0) was 13.6 females progeny/female/generation at 25°C. The results demonstrated that T. bagdasarjani is well adapted to high temperatures. However, the efficiency to control spider mites may be affected by behavioral characteristics of the predator and its prey under real conditions.
Phytoseiulus longipes Evans (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) is an exotic predator widely used in biological control programs for the red spider mite Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritchard (Acari: ...Tetranychidae) in East Africa. However, little is known about the cues mediating this prey/predator interaction. Here, we performed behavioral assays to test the involvement of visual, vibratory, and olfactory cues using a combination of dead/living insects enclosed in either perforated or non-perforated transparent/opaque capsules. We monitored insect responses with a video tracking system and analyzed the data with Ethovision software. Our results showed avoidance behavior of T. evansi in the presence of live P. longipes through visual, vibratory, and olfactory cues. P. longipes was attracted by vibratory and olfactory cues emitted by T. evansi. The composition of volatiles from T. evansi was identified by GC/MS as methyl salicylate (MeSA), linalool, β-caryophyllene, octanoic acid, decanoic acid, dodecanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, and octadecanoic acid. Our behavioral assays with predatory mites in a Y-tube olfactometer revealed that among the identified volatiles, only MeSA, linalool, and MeSA + linalool attracted P. longipes. The implications of these findings for the control of T. evansi are discussed.
The relationships between the predatory mites, Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) and Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) (Acari: Phytoseiidae), and their prey, western flower thrips (Frankliniella ...occidentalis Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), were investigated to determine the effects of predation on intra-guild or extra-guild prey and predator preference. Life history characteristics of both predatory mites were measured when fed eggs and larvae of the other predator species and compared to data obtained when the predators were fed thrips larvae. In addition, choice tests were conducted to determine if the predators had a preference for different prey or if they were indiscriminate predators. Amblyseius swirskii appears to be an important intra-guild predator of N. cucumeris juveniles because of a high predation rate and a preference for N. cucumeris juveniles over thrips. Neoseiulus cucumeris is also an intra-guild predator of A. swirskii juveniles; however, it has a lower predation rate than A. swirskii. Contrary to intra-guild predation theory, intra-guild prey was an equally good or better food source than thrips (extra-guild prey) for both predators, based on high oviposition rates and fast development times. The results of this study indicate a high potential for negative interactions between A. swirskii and N. cucumeris when used together in biological control of thrips.
The spider mite, Eotetranychus lewisi (McGregor) (Acari: Tetranychidae), is a new emerging pest in California commercial strawberries. The predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis (Athias-Henriot) ...(Acari: Phytoseiidae), typically used for biocontrol of Tetranychus urticae (Koch) (Acari: Tetranychidae), provided growers little to no control of E. lewisi. Four commonly used phytoseiid predatory mites: P. persimilis, Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor), N. fallacis (Garman), and Amblyseius andersoni (Chant), were used in lab studies to investigate which is best at managing E. lewisi populations. We also investigated the interactions between T. urticae and E. lewisi and in relation to phytoseiid efficiency given the potential for indirect effects of biocontrol. When E. lewisi and T. urticae are present on the same leaf, T. urticae populations increase and begin displacing E. lewisi. P. persimilis did not feed on E. lewisi, but the other three predatory mites consumed the spider mites and lowered their populations. When both E. lewisi and T. urticae are present on the same leaf, N. fallacis and A. andersoni fed on both types of mites equally and were capable of decreasing both populations. N. californicus fed on E. lewisi first and decreased its population, but allowed T. urticae populations to increase. P. persimilis may be insufficient at controlling E. lewisi and its use may instead enhance E. lewisi populations.
Ácaros associados à cultura da soja no Rio Grande do Sul Guedes, Jerson V.C.(Univ. Federal de Santa Maria Depto. Defesa Fitossanitária); Navia, Denise(EMBRAPA Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia); Lofego, Antonio C.(EMBRAPA Centro Universitário do Norte PaulistaGenéticos e Biotecnologia) ...
Neotropical entomology,
2007, Letnik:
36, Številka:
2
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Nas últimas safras agrícolas, foram observadas severas infestações de ácaros fitófagos em diversos municípios do Rio Grande do Sul, demandando a utilização de pesticidas para seu controle. Este ...trabalho teve como objetivo identificar as espécies de ácaros fitófagos e predadores associados à soja em dez municípios daquele estado, nas safras de 2002/03 e 2003/04, em cinco cultivares de soja (A 6001 RG, A 7001 RG, A 8000 RG, A 8100 RG, Anta 82), todas geneticamente modificadas. Em amostras de folhas foram encontradas quatro espécies de ácaros fitófagos (Mononychellus planki (McGregor), Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks), Tetranychus desertorum Banks e Tetranychus gigas Pritchard & Baker) e duas espécies de ácaros predadores (Phytoseiulus fragariae Denmark & Schicha e Typhlodromalus aripo De Leon). Tetranychus desertorum foi registrada pela primeira vez, associada à soja, no país. P. fragariae e T. aripo foram registradas pela primeira vez em soja. O potencial dos ácaros fitoseídeos como agentes de controle biológico na cultura da soja foi discutido. Dentre as hipóteses para o crescimento das infestações de culturas de soja com ácaros fitófagos estão a expansão progressiva da área cultivada, os veranicos observados nos últimos anos durante a estação de plantio, as modificações no sistema de cultivo da soja que levaram ao aumento no uso de pesticidas e a utilização de novas cultivares com características morfológicas ou bioquímicas que favorecem o desenvolvimento de populações desses ácaros.
During the last growing seasons, high infestations of phytophagous mites were observed in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, becoming necessary to apply pesticides for their control. The objective of this study was to identify phytophagous and predatory mite species associated with soybean in ten counties of that state, during the 2002/03 and 2003/04 growing seasons, in five soybean cultivars (A 6001 RG, A 7001 RG, A 8000 RG, A 8100 RG, Anta 82), all genetically modified. In samples of soybean leaves four phytophagous mite species (Mononychellus planki (McGregor), Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks), Tetranychus desertorum Banks and Tetranychus gigas Pritchard & Baker) and two predatory mite species (Phytoseiulus fragariae Denmark & Schicha and Typhlodromalus aripo De Leon) were found. T. desertorum was found for the first time associated with soybean in the country. Phytoseiulus fragariae and T. aripo are reported for the first time on soybean. The potential of phytoseid mites as biological control agents in soybean crop was discussed. Among the hypotheses to explain the increasing infestation of soybean fields with phytophagous mites area are the progressively larger cultivated area, the dry spells observed in the last few years in the growing season, changes in soybean cropping system that led to increased use of pesticides and utilization of new soybean cultivars with morphological or biochemicals characteristics that favour the development of these mite populations.
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