Efficacy of the predatory mite Cydnoseius negevi (Swirskii & Amitai) (Acari: phytoseiidae) as a shared predator for sucking pests on sweet pepper in a net house in Egypt

Author(s):  
El-laithy A.y. M., E, M.elseedy ◽  
Hoda E. Hussein

A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of the native predatory mite Cydnoseius negevi (Swirski and Amitai) (=Typlodromus negevi) as a biological control agent for Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) complex, Onion thrips Thrips tapaci (Lindeman) and Tetranychus urticae (Koch). The efficacy of Phytoseiulus persimilis (Athias-Henriot) against these pests was also evaluated. The data obtained revealed reduction in population density of the above-mentioned pests in the experimental plots for P. persimilis and C. negivi compared to the control plot. Mean population density of each of the pests ranging from 32.2–0.5, 284.4–2.0 and 441.8–2.0 individuals / leaf for T. urticae, in the three plots respectively. The mean values of B. tabaci fluctuated between 41.1–2.1, 16.2–1.0 and 57.3–3.6. individuals / leaf and T. tabaci between 20.1–2.6, 13.7–1.4 and 24.9–1.9 individuals / leaf respectively. A slight non-consumptive negative effect is shown by P. persimilis against the pests B. tabaci and T. tabaci. This preliminary experiment hopefully will enhance the role of the native predator C. negevi to play a role in bio-control and its mass augmentation.

Oecologia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 192 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Le Hesran ◽  
Thomas Groot ◽  
Markus Knapp ◽  
Tibor Bukovinszky ◽  
Jovano Erris Nugroho ◽  
...  

AbstractThe ability of an organism to adapt to short-term environmental changes within its lifetime is of fundamental importance. This adaptation may occur through phenotypic plasticity. Insects and mites, in particular, are sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity, especially during the juvenile stages. We studied the role of phenotypic plasticity in the adaptation of eggs to different relative humidity conditions, in the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis, used worldwide as a biological control agent of the spider mite Tetranychus urticae. The biocontrol efficacy of P. persimilis decreases under dry conditions, partly because P. persimilis eggs are sensitive to drought. We exposed P. persimilis adult females from two different strains to constant and variable humidity regimes and evaluated the hatching rate of their eggs in dry conditions, as well as the survival and oviposition rates of these females. Whereas the eggs laid by P. persimilis females exposed to constant high humidity did not survive in dry conditions, females exposed to constant low humidity started laying drought-resistant eggs after 24 h of exposure. Survival and oviposition rates of the females were affected by humidity: females laid fewer eggs under constant low humidity and had a shorter lifespan under constant high and constant low humidity. The humidity regimes tested had similar effects across the two P. persimilis strains. Our results demonstrate that transgenerational phenotypic plasticity, called maternal effect, allows P. persimilis females to prepare their offspring for dry conditions.


1991 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 155-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell F. Mizell ◽  
Daniel E. Schiffhauer

Abstract Neosieulus (Cydnodromus) collegae (De Leon) (Acari:Phytoseiidae) is a heretofore relatively unknown species of predatory mite. In an olfactometer, female predators were attracted to kairomones produced by Tetranychus urticae Koch, Oligonychus ilicis (McGregor), O. ununguis (Jacobi), Eotetranychus hicoriae (McGregor), and E. sexmaculatus (Riley). Predators were repelled by odors emanating from lima bean leaves treated with Mavrik (fluvalinate) and Ammo (cypermethrin), but unresponsive to those treated with Tame (fenpropathrin) and Talstar (bifenthrin). This predator species was tolerant of residues of Vendex (hexakis), Omite (propargite), Pentac (dienochlor) and Avid (abamectin) but not to residues of Tame (fenpropathrin) and Kelthane (dicofol). Eggs of T. urticae treated with Tame (fenpropathrin) were toxic to the predator when consumed. Female N. collegae would not consume eggs treated with Avid (abamectin); starvation reduced fecundity. Prey eggs treated with Vendex (hexakis) and Omite CR (propargite) were consumed without affecting predator fecundity or mortality. Eggs treated with Pentac (dienochlor) or Kethane (dicofol) were consumed, but significantly reduced predator fecundity. Predators released into plots in a commercial nursery during winter in north Florida reduced field populations of T. urticae within 20–30 days, if released in high numbers. Neosieulus collegae may have significant potential as a biological control agent in nursery crops for control of mite pests.


2021 ◽  
Vol 104 (4) ◽  
pp. 218-222
Author(s):  
V. V. Moor ◽  
A. I. Anisimov ◽  
E. G. Kozlova*

The two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae is a dangerous polyphagous pest of agricultural and ornamental plants. In a commercial greenhouse treated with acaricides or biological control using predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis individual varieties of roses differed significantly in terms of the average annual infestation by the pest mite. On the poorly populated rose varieties, the biological control agent application was more effective as compared to the acaricides. To effectively control the pest, the required predatory mite rates were 4.6–8.7 times higher on varieties with a minimal spider mite infestation (Aqua and Deep Water) as compared to the maximal pest infestation (Heaven and Brazil).


1955 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 121-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. H. Buckner

The greatest predatory effect of small mammals is exerted upon insects that spend a portion of their life cycle on the ground or in the soil. Sawflies afford ample opportunity for mammalian predation, since they drop to the ground as mature larvae and spin cocoons in the soil. Such sawflies as Neodiprion abietis Harr., which remain within the cocoon for about three weeks, undergo only moderate risk of being preyed upon by small mammal. However, Pristiphora erichsonii (Htg.) remains within the cocoon from about mid-August until the following June, or even over more than one year, thus greatly extending the vulnerable period. Earlier investigations suggest that small mammals may comprise the largest single biological control agent acting against this insect (Graham 1928, Lejeune 1951), but the exact role of mammalian predators of forest insects has yet to be established.


Plant Disease ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 374-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Luo ◽  
D. O. TeBeest

The fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides f. sp. aeschynomene causes an anthracnose on Aeschynomene virginica and has been used as a biological control agent to control this weed in the United States. The population dynamics of a wild-type strain (3-1-3) and two mutant strains of 3-1-3 of C. gloeosporioides f. sp. aeschynomene, a benomyl-resistant strain (B21) and nitrate-nonutilizing strain (Nit A), were studied in field tests on northern jointvetch in 1994 and 1995 to determine how the strains interacted on infected plants under field conditions. Plants were co-inoculated with strains 3-1-3 and B21, strains 3-1-3 and Nit A, and strains 3-1-3, B21, and Nit A at equal and unequal initial proportions. Plants were grown and maintained under flooded conditions in small wading pools. In co-inoculation of plants with 3-1-3 and B21 from equal initial proportions, the population of 3-1-3 increased slightly until it reached a proportion of 60 to 70%, whereas the population density of B21 reached 30 to 40% at the end of growing season. From unequal initial proportions, the population density of B21 decreased from 90 to about 50%, whereas the 3-1-3 increased from 10 to 50%. The population density of 3-1-3 increased from an equal initial proportion and was significantly greater than that of Nit A on every sampling time. From unequal initial proportions, the population density of 3-1-3 increased from 10 to 90%, whereas that of Nit A declined. In co-inoculation of plants with the three strains, the population density of 3-1-3 was significantly greater than those of the mutant strains at every sampling time. The proportions of mutant strains within the total population of C. gloeosporioides f. sp. aeschynomene on plants varied according to the test conditions and the number and types of strains co-inoculated.


2020 ◽  
Vol 113 (4) ◽  
pp. 1735-1740
Author(s):  
Md Arefur Rahman ◽  
Souvic Sarker ◽  
Eunhye Ham ◽  
Jun-Seok Lee ◽  
Un Taek Lim

Abstract The polyphagous predator Orius species is a dominant predator of thrips, mites, and aphids. Orius laevigatus (Fieber) is a well-known commercialized and effective biological control agent, whereas Orius minutus (L.) distributed widely over the world has not been commercialized. To assess potentials of developing O. minutus as a commercial biological control agent, we compared the biological parameters of O. minutus with O. laevigatus when reared on mixed stages of Tetranychus urticae Koch at 27.5°C. Nymphal development of O. laevigatus was shorter (11.30 d) than that of O. minutus (12.25 d), but there was no significant difference in survivorship between the two species. Also, no significant difference was found in either the preoviposition or oviposition periods, lifetime fecundity, or longevity between the two species. However, O. minutus eggs had a higher hatch rate (0.77) than O. laevigatus (0.71). In life table analysis, no difference was found in any parameters, i.e., R0, rm, λ, T, and DT, between O. laevigatus and O. minutus in two-tailed t-tests. In a predation bioassay, O. minutus consumed 1.39 times more adult T. urticae in 24 h than did O. laevigatus, although the predation rate on T. urticae eggs was similar between the two species. These results suggest that O. minutus native to Korea could be developed as a biological control agent against T. urticae.


Author(s):  
Sajjad Dalir ◽  
Hamidreza Hajiqanbar ◽  
Yaghoub Fathipour ◽  
Mostafa Khanamani

Abstract The age-specific functional and numerical responses of Neoseiulus cucumeris Oudemans (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) on eggs of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae), were assessed in the laboratory using bean leaf discs. Densities of 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128 prey were provided to 4- (protonymph), 6- (deutonymph), 8-, 13-, 18-, 23-, 28-, 33-, and 40-d-old N. cucumeris individuals. The functional response of 28- and 40-d-old N. cucumeris fitted type II, whereas the other ages displayed a type III functional response. The longest handling time observed at the age of 4 d was 0.515 h, whereas the shortest handling time and highest value of maximum attack rate (T/Th) were associated with the age of the 28-d-old treatment (0.261 h and 91.95 prey/d, respectively). The numerical response of N. cucumeris showed a significant increase with increasing prey density, but its rate gradually decreased at higher densities. Therefore, the efficiency of conversion of ingested food was relatively higher at low two-spotted spider mite densities, whereas it was reduced at high two-spotted spider mite densities. The stronger functional response and predation capacity of N. cucumeris on two-spotted spider mite eggs indicated the high potential of this predatory mite as an effective biological control agent against two-spotted spider mite especially at its early and middle ages and also when higher prey densities are present.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 1225-1235
Author(s):  
Rui Zhu ◽  
Jian-Jun Guo ◽  
Tian-Ci Yi ◽  
Rong Xiao ◽  
Dao-Chao Jin

The predatory mite, Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor), is an important biological control agent of Tetranychus urticae Koch in greenhouse crops. Oulenziella bakeri is an important alternative prey for the commercial production of N. californicus. To confirm that the predatory relationship between N. californicus and O. bakeri is beneficial to the reproduction of N. californicus, the functional and numerical responses of N. californicus to O. bakeri and T. urticae were compared when exposed to six prey densities (2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 individuals) under laboratory conditions. An analysis of the logistic regression showed that the adult female N. californicus displayed a type II functional response when fed on O. bakeri and T. urticae eggs and nymphs. The proportion of the consumed prey by N. californicus to the total supplied prey declined, even though the absolute number of predation events increased as the prey density increased. The Holling disc equation revealed that N. californicus had greater attack rates on the eggs (0.86-1.03) and nymphs (0.73-0.93) of T. urticae than those of O. bakeri, which were (0.55–0.73) and (0.71–0.96), respectively. N. californicus had longer handling times for the eggs (0.05–0.09) and nymphs (0.07–0.12) of O. bakeri compared with those of T. urticae, which were (0.03–0.05) and (0.04–0.07), respectively. The numbers of eggs laid by N. californicus feeding on eggs and nymphs of T. urticae were greater than those feeding on O. bakeri; but as the density increased, the difference in the oviposition rates between the predators feeding on two mites decreased. The comparison of the functional and numerical responses of the predator to O. bakeri and T. urticae revealed that the former is a good alternative food in the commercial production of N. californicus.


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