The dried fruit mite Carpoglyphus lactis (Acari: Carpoglyphidae) is a suitable alternative prey for Amblyseius herbicolus (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keshi Zhang ◽  
Zhi-Qiang Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Mass Rearing ◽  
Generalist Predators ◽  
Alternative Prey ◽  
Suitable Alternative ◽  
Final Population ◽  
Dried Fruit ◽  
Typha Orientalis ◽  
Amblyseius Herbicolus

Being generalist predators makes many members of the Phytoseiidae family a more favourable choice for biocontrol. Amblyseius herbicolus, a predator of several phytophagous pest mites and insects, has recently gained focus as an important biocontrol agent. Most studies focus on providing alternative food such as pollens as a way to increase their persistence on the targets when prey is absent. In this study, we evaluated the developmental and reproductive performance of A. herbicolus on two different diets: the dried fruit mite Carpoglyphus lactis and Raupo Typha orientalis pollen. The groups treated with C. lactis took 7 days to reach adulthood, while the groups treated with pollen took 11 days. The pollen-treated mites did not reproduce but this is likely due to the reduction of pollen quality. When given C. lactis, A. herbicolus produced more than 20 eggs over two weeks and the adults survived 18–19 days. The ratio of A. herbicolus egg to C. lactis adult used (1:20, 40 & 120) in the experiment did not affect the final population size. Cannibalism and competition seemed to affect all treatments, especially those cells started with three A. herbicolus eggs. Under laboratory conditions, A. herbicolus can be successfully cultured using C. lactis, which is an advantageous method for the laboratory and mass rearing of A. herbicolus.

Re-adaptation from alternative prey to target prey increased predation of predator on target mite

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Su ◽  
An-Di Zhu ◽  
Guo-Dong Han ◽  
Fang Dong ◽  
Jing Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Enemy ◽  
Spider Mite ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Mass Rearing ◽  
Predatory Mites ◽  
Alternative Prey ◽  
Tyrophagus Putrescentiae ◽  
Potential Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Tetranychus Turkestani

Neoseiulus bicaudus (Wainstein) is a natural enemy of spider mite and thrip and also a potential biocontrol agent for Tetranychus turkestani (Tetranychidae). Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) is an important alternative prey of N. bicaudus for mass rearing. We aimed to determine whether previous long-term feeding history, rearing on alternative prey versus target prey affected the performance of N. bicaudus. Therefore, the prey preference and functional response of predatory mites were compared between three strains: N. bicaudus fed on T. turkestani (TTS); N. bicaudus fed on T. putrescentiae (TPS); and N. bicaudus re-adapted from T. putrescentiae to T. turkestani (TPRS). When fed with the target prey, the preference rate and consumption of the TPS strain were significantly lower than the TTS strain. In addition, after 3-day-re-adaptation, the predatory mites (TPRS) increased their preference rate and consumption to target prey. The results suggested that re-adaptation before release could improve the ability of N. bicaudus to control its target prey.

scholarly journals A Preliminary Assessment of Amblyseius andersoni (Chant) as a Potential Biocontrol Agent against Phytophagous Mites Occurring on Coniferous Plants

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 664
Author(s):  
Ewa Puchalska ◽  
Stanisław Kamil Zagrodzki ◽  
Marcin Kozak ◽  
Brian G. Rector ◽  
Anna Mauer
Keyword(s):  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Mass Rearing ◽  
Predator Population ◽  
Preliminary Assessment ◽  
Amblyseius Andersoni ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Oligonychus Ununguis ◽  
Potential Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Pine Pollen ◽  
Survival And Reproduction

Development, survival and reproduction of Ambyseius andersoni (Chant), a predatory mite widely distributed in Europe, were assessed on different food items. These included two key pests of ornamental coniferous plants, i.e., Oligonychus ununguis (Jacobi) and Pentamerismus taxi (Haller) and pollen of Pinus sylvestris L. The rationale behind these experiments was to provide a preliminary assessment of the potential of A. andersoni as a biocontrol agent of the above phytophagous arthropods and evaluate pine pollen as an alternative food source for the predator. Under laboratory conditions (23 ± 0.5 °C, 70 ± 10% RH and 16L:8D) A. andersoni was able to feed, develop and reproduce on all tested diets. The shortest development time (egg to female) was obtained when the predator fed on P. taxi (mean = 5.12 d) and the longest was on pine pollen (mean = 6.55 d). The rm value was significantly higher on both tested prey (0.166 on P. taxi and 0.160 on O. ununguis) than on pollen (0.139). Thus, we do not recommend pine pollen for mass rearing of A. andersoni; however, we conclude that pollen may provide sufficient sustenance for the predator population under field conditions when prey are absent. The potential of A. andersoni as a biocontrol agent of O. ununguis and P. taxi is discussed.

Predation, prey preference and reproduction of predatory mites Amblydromalus limonicus (Garman), Amblyseius herbicolus (Chant) and Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) on immature Sericothrips staphylinus Haliday (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), a biocontrol agent of gorse

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 508
Author(s):  
Wendy Lam ◽  
Quentin Paynter ◽  
Zhi-Qiang Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Choice Experiment ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Predation Rate ◽  
Mite Species ◽  
Oviposition Rate ◽  
Neoseiulus Cucumeris ◽  
Amblydromalus Limonicus ◽  
Amblyseius Herbicolus

Gorse, Ulex europaeus, is an invasive weed that has serious agricultural, economic and ecological impacts. Although various biological control agents have been released in New Zealand, these have showed no noticeable impact on gorse populations. One such agent, Sericothrips staphylinus, was introduced to New Zealand in 1990 and although laboratory impact studies indicated it was a highly promising gorse biological control agent, it has not been as effective as was hoped. We hypothesized this was due to predation by natural enemies. This study investigated the predation and oviposition rates of three phytoseiid mites (Amblydromalus limonicus, Amblyseius herbicolus, and Neoseiulus cucumeris) that have been found on gorse plants in New Zealand on three S. staphylinus stages (1st instar larvae, 2nd instar larvae, and prepupa) in both choice and non-choice conditions. In non-choice conditions, A. limonicus had the highest predation and oviposition rate across all three immature stages, and N. cucumeris had the lowest. Amblydromalus  limonicus, A. herbicolus, and N. cucumeris all had their highest predation rate when consuming 1st instar larvae, and their lowest predation rate when consuming prepupa. In the choice experiment, all three predatory mite species consumed their highest proportion of 1st instar larvae, and their lowest proportion of prepupae.  The oviposition rate of all three mite species in the choice experiment was similar to the oviposition rate when presented with 1st instar larvae only. The results from this study confirm that A. limonicus, A. herbicolus, and N. cucumeris can predate and reproduce on S. staphylinus 1st instar larvae, 2nd instar larvae, and prepupa. This indicates that predation may be the reason why S. staphylinus is an ineffective biocontrol agent in New Zealand. 

Effects of alternative and natural prey on body size, locomotion and dispersal of Neoseiulus bicaudus (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (9) ◽  
pp. 1579-1591
Author(s):  
Jie Su ◽  
Min Liu ◽  
Zhen-Shi Fu ◽  
An-Di Zhu ◽  
Jian Ping Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Mass Rearing ◽  
Predatory Mite ◽  
The Body ◽  
Alternative Prey ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Natural Prey ◽  
Tetranychus Turkestani

Prey are very important for the mass rearing of natural enemies and can affect the efficiency and quality of natural enemy products. Locomotion is important in dispersal of predatory mites on plants, and such activity is affected by body size and prey availability. The study evaluates the effects of prey (alternative prey: Tyrophagus putrescentiae Schrank and natural prey: Tetranychus turkestani Ugarov & Nikolskii) on the body size, locomotion and dispersal of the predatory mite Neoseiulus bicaudus Wainstein. When fed the alternative prey, the body size and locomotion of N. bicaudus were significantly lower than when fed the natural prey. However, the dispersal of N. bicaudus fed the two prey types was similar. The results suggest that long-term feeding on alternative prey could decrease the body size and locomotion of N. bicaudus. Nevertheless, the negative effects of alternative prey did not appear to affect the dispersal of N. bicaudus. The likely reason is that the type of prey does not affect the ability of the predatory mite to locate spider mites. In other words, when it fed alternative prey, N. bicaudus could still successfully disperse and locate spider mite-infested plants in the same way as when fed the natural prey.

Field trials of Trichomalopsis sarcophagae (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) in cattle feedlots: a potential biocontrol agent of filth flies (Diptera: Muscidae)

2003 ◽  
Vol 135 (4) ◽  
pp. 599-608 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.D. Floate
Keyword(s):  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Mass Rearing ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
House Fly ◽  
Stable Fly ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Potential Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Paired Control

AbstractA field study was performed in southern Alberta, Canada, to assess the native wasp, Trichomalopsis sarcophagae (Gahan), as a potential biocontrol agent for house fly, Musca domestica L., and stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.). The wasp was readily reared in large numbers, which allowed for the cumulative release of an estimated 4.63 million wasps into three commercial feedlots during the 2-year study. Each of several releases predictably and repeatedly enhanced parasitism of sentinel house fly pupae, whereas parasitism remained low in three paired control feedlots where wasps were not released. Releases every 2nd week had a disproportionately greater effect than releases every 2nd month. In 1998, 1.2 million wasps were released into treatment feedlots resulting in the recovery of 3 952 T. sarcophagae from 31 500 sentinel pupae (0.13 wasps/pupa). In 1999, 3.43 million wasps were released into treatment feedlots, with the recovery of 37 763 wasps from 47 720 sentinel pupae (0.79 wasps/pupa). Hence, a 2.8-fold increase in the number of wasps released in 1999 resulted in a 6.1-fold increase in the recovery of wasps. This result supports industry recommendations of regular, repeated releases of wasps every 2nd or 4th week versus one or infrequent releases throughout the summer. There was no evidence that releases augmented overwintering populations of the wasp in subsequent years. These results provide proof-of-concept for the mass-rearing and release of T. sarcophagae as an inundative biocontrol agent for the control of pest flies in cattle confinements. Further studies will be required to assess the effect of T. sarcophagae releases on natural populations of pest flies.

scholarly journals Consuming alternative prey does not influence the DNA detectability half-life of pest prey in spider gut contents

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e7680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dávid Fülöp ◽  
Éva Szita ◽  
Regina Gerstenbrand ◽  
Gergely Tholt ◽  
Ferenc Samu
Keyword(s):  
Natural Enemy ◽  
Half Life ◽  
Fruit Fly ◽  
Gut Contents ◽  
Generalist Predators ◽  
Alternative Prey ◽  
Pest Species ◽  
Time Intervals ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Pest Interactions

Background Key natural enemy-pest interactions can be mapped in agricultural food webs by analysing predator gut content for the presence of a focal pest species. For this, PCR-based approaches are the most widely used methods providing the incidence of consumption of a focal pest in field sampled predators. To interpret such data the rate of prey DNA decay in the predators’ gut, described by DNA detectability half-life (t1/2), is needed. DNA decay may depend on the presence of alternative prey in the gut of generalist predators, but this effect has not been investigated in one of the major predatory arthropod groups, spiders. Methods In a laboratory feeding experiment, we determined t1/2 of the key cereal pest virus vector leafhopper Psammotettix alienus in the digestive tracts of its natural enemy, the spider Tibellus oblongus. We followed the fate of prey DNA in spiders which received only the focal prey as food, or as an alternative prey treatment they also received a meal of fruit flies after leafhopper consumption. After these feeding treatments, spiders were starved for variable time intervals prior to testing for leafhopper DNA in order to establish t1/2. Results We created a PCR protocol that detects P. alienus DNA in its spider predator. The protocol was further calibrated to the digestion speed of the spider by establishing DNA decay rate. Detectability limit was reached at 14 days, where c. 10% of the animals tested positive. The calculated t1/2 = 5 days value of P. alienus DNA did not differ statistically between the treatment groups which received only the leafhopper prey or which also received fruit fly. The PCR protocol was validated in a field with known P. alienus infestation. In this applicability trial, we showed that 12.5% of field collected spiders were positive for the leafhopper DNA. We conclude that in our model system the presence of alternative prey did not influence the t1/2 estimate of a pest species, which makes laboratory protocols more straightforward for the calibration of future field data.

scholarly journals Biology of Brontocoris tabidus (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) fed with Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae) larvae

2003 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 463-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Jusselino-Filho ◽  
J. C. Zanuncio ◽  
D. B. Fragoso ◽  
J. E Serrão ◽  
M. C. Lacerda
Keyword(s):  
Survival Rate ◽  
Musca Domestica ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Mass Rearing ◽  
Egg Mass ◽  
Egg Viability ◽  
Egg Incubation ◽  
Incubation Periods ◽  
Female Longevity ◽  
Heteroptera Pentatomidae

Development and reproductive performance of Brontocoris tabidus (Signoret) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) fed with Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae) larvae was evaluated. Duration of the nymphal phase of this predator was 31.2 days, with a 44.1% survival rate. Preoviposition and egg incubation periods and number of eggs/egg mass were 8.14 days, 5.6 days, and 45.4, respectively. B. tabidus presented 44.7% egg viability. Female longevity of this predator was 18.4 days. Results are discussed based on this prey use in mass rearing and maintenance of colonies of B. tabidus under laboratory conditions.

Biological parameters of Neoseiulus longilaterus (Athias-Henriot) (Parasitiformes, Phytoseiidae) fed on prey and pollen in laboratory conditions

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (9) ◽  
pp. 1757-1768
Author(s):  
Haralabos Tsolakis ◽  
M. Sinacori ◽  
E. Ragusa ◽  
A. Lombardo
Keyword(s):  
Tetranychus Urticae ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Postembryonic Development ◽  
Generalist Predators ◽  
Demographic Parameters ◽  
Type Ii ◽  
Biological Parameters ◽  
Phytoseiid Mites ◽  
Laboratory Conditions ◽  
Important Pest

Tetranychus urticae is the most important pest on different crops worldwide. Search for endemic phytoseiid mites co-occurring with the above pest, which might be good candidates as biocontrol agents, represents the policy followed by most scientists in recent years. The aim of the present work was to assess the various biological and demographic parameters of Neoseiulus longilaterus, associated with T. urticae on weeds, in laboratory conditions using the latter tetranychid and pollen of Oxalis pes-caprae as food. The results showed a better performance of the predator on the prey as regards the postembryonic development (7.63 and 8.18 days for prey and pollen respectively) and the demographic parameters (rm 0.158 and 0.102, Ro 26.89 and 18.76, DT 4.39 and 6.78 for T. urticae and Oxalis respectively). Our data shows that N. longilaterus have similar traits with some phytoseiid species belonging to type II selective predators, but also with some others included within type III generalist predators. As a matter of fact, it can be considered an interesting biocontrol agent towards T. urticae, able also to develop on alternative foods as the pollen of Oxalis.

scholarly journals Optimizing Parasitoid and Host Densities for Efficient Rearing of Ontsira mellipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on Asian Longhorned Beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 1041-1048
Author(s):  
Xingeng Wang ◽  
Ellen M Aparicio ◽  
Jian J Duan ◽  
Juli Gould ◽  
Kim A Hoelmer
Keyword(s):  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Host Density ◽  
Mass Rearing ◽  
Anoplophora Glabripennis ◽  
Host Feeding ◽  
Longhorned Beetle ◽  
Reproductive Outcomes ◽  
Asian Longhorned Beetle ◽  
Novel Association ◽  
Per Capita

Abstract Ontsira mellipes Ashmead is a gregarious larval ectoparasitoid of woodboring cerambycids. It is native to North America but can readily attack the exotic Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky). This study aimed to develop an efficient rearing system for this parasitoid, as a potential novel association biocontrol agent for the beetle, by investigating the effects of different densities of host (two, three, or four larvae) and parasitoid (one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, and eight female wasps) on Ontsira’s parasitization efficiency and reproductive outcomes. Results showed that overall parasitism and total numbers of parasitized hosts or progeny produced increased with host and/or parasitoid densities, but the number of parasitized hosts or progeny produced per female parasitoid decreased with parasitoid density at each given host density. Nonlinear regression indicated a consistent pattern of mutual interference as parasitoid density increased. Additional experiments showed that superparasitism (indirect interference) did not occur probably because the parasitoid detects hosts through vibration cues from host feeding and attacked (thus paralyzed) hosts are no longer detectable. Thus, the interference probably results from direct or exploitative competition. Interestingly, female parasitoids responded to increased parasitoid density with a significant increase in clutch size. Overall, per capita parasitization efficiency or reproductive outcomes were optimized at a low parasitoid–host ratio but with large group size of hosts and parasitoids. Therefore, an optimal combination of exposing three or four parasitoids to four hosts is proposed for efficient mass-rearing of this parasitoid.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document