Plant-Related Factors Influence the Effectiveness of <I>Neoseiulus fallacis</I> (Acari: Phytoseiidae), a Biological Control Agent of Spider Mites on Landscape Ornamental Plants

Spider mites (family Tetranychidae) are important pests of many agricultural, medicinal and ornamental plants worldwide. They possess needle-like chelicerae which pierce plant cells, often feeding on chloroplasts on the under surface of the leaf and cause upper leaf surfaces develop whitish or yellowish stippling. Additionally spider mites produce silk webbing which covers the leaves. In this chapter we present common control methods of these mites including biological control with emphasizing on the prey preference, switching behavior and mutual interference of a biological control agent, Phytoseius plumifer (Canestrini and Fanzago). Additionally the side effects of two acaricides, abamectin and fenpyroxymate, on this predator will be discussed.

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Topical Toxicity of Pesticides Used in Virginia Vineyards to the Predatory Mite, Neoseiulus fallacis (Garman)

Journal of Entomological Science ◽

10.18474/0749-8004-37.4.329 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 37 (4) ◽

pp. 329-337 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jessica A. Metzger ◽

Douglas G. Pfeiffer

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Spider Mites ◽

Predatory Mite ◽

Control Agent ◽

Management Program ◽

Control Treatment ◽

Neoseiulus Fallacis ◽

Azinphos Methyl ◽

Direct Toxicity

Slide dip bioassays were conducted to determine the direct toxicity of insecticides, acaricides, fungicides, and herbicides commonly used in vineyards in Virginia to Neoseiulus fallacis (Garman) (Acari: Phytoseiidae), a predatory mite under consideration as a biological control agent for spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae). Among the insecticides and acaricides tested in the laboratory, carbaryl, azinphos-methyl, phosmet, cyhexatin, and pyridaben caused significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher mortality than the control treatment. None of the fungicides tested were toxic to the predator, but three herbicides caused high mortality. Glufosinate caused 100% mortality after 24 h, and both oxyfluorfen and paraquat had adverse effects on N. fallacis. The use of materials that were found to be toxic to the predator may not be compatible with releases of N. fallacis into Virginia vineyards. However, incorporating materials that appear to have no direct toxicity to the predator into an integrated pet management program could improve the survival rate of released N. fallacis while still protecting this high value crop from other pests.

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Effects of photoperiod on induction of diapause in Feltiella acarisuga (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/ent13469-1 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 134 (1) ◽

pp. 69-75 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

D.R. Gillespie ◽

D.M.J. Quiring

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

British Columbia ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Gall Midge ◽

Growing Season ◽

Spider Mites ◽

Control Agent ◽

Leaf Surfaces ◽

Low Incidence ◽

Predatory Gall Midge

AbstractLarvae of the predatory gall midge Feltiella acarisuga (Vallot) diapaused as prepupae in tightly woven, brown, silk cells on leaf surfaces. Photoperiod alone, at day lengths from 16 to 8 h did not induce diapause at either 20 or 25 °C. A low incidence of diapause was induced by a combined photoperiod and thermoperiod of an 8-h day at 25 °C and a 16-h night at 15 °C. The incidence of diapause was higher under these conditions if the larvae were fed diapausing spider mites, Tetranychus urticae (Koch) (Acari: Tetranychidae). Because F. acarisuga only diapauses at daylengths equivalent to mid-winter, when its prey, T. urticae, is also in diapause, it can be used as a biological control agent for T. urticae in British Columbia greenhouses throughout most of the growing season.

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Toxicity of Pesticides Registered for Use in Landscape Nurseries to the Acarine Biological Control Agent, Neoseiulus fallacis

Journal of Environmental Horticulture ◽

10.24266/0738-2898-18.4.197 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 197-201 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

P.D. Pratt ◽

B.A. Croft

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Pacific Northwest ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Phytoseiulus Persimilis ◽

Control Agent ◽

Current Control ◽

Pesticide Toxicity ◽

Neoseiulus Fallacis ◽

Susceptibility Data ◽

The Pacific

Abstract The predatory mite Neoseiulus fallacis (Garman) is an important biological control agent of spider mites in landscape plants produced in the Pacific Northwest. Using pesticide toxicity information from the SELCTV database and recent literature reports, we estimated toxicity of several general pesticide classes to N. fallacis, compared susceptibility of N. fallacis to 3 other predatory mites and developed summary tables of pesticide toxicity to N. fallacis. Pesticide classes ranged from low or non-toxic to N. fallacis (i.e., organosulfur) to highly toxic (i.e., oxime carbamate). Pesticide susceptibility data for N. fallacis within or between chemical classes was similar to data for either of Typhlodromus pyri Scheuten, Galendromus occidentalis Nesbitt, or Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot. While all pesticide types (i.e., insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, etc.) contained representatives that were highly toxic to N. fallacis, various compounds were rated low or non-toxic. On average, insecticides were most toxic to N. fallacis, fungicides least toxic and herbicides intermediate. Probability of exposure and integration of N. fallacis into current control practices are discussed.

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Variability of infestation of rose varieties by the spider mite Tetranychus urticae under conditions of application of Phytoseiulus persimilis or acaricides

Plant Protection News ◽

10.31993/2308-6459-2021-104-4-15129 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 104 (4) ◽

pp. 218-222

Author(s):

V. V. Moor ◽

A. I. Anisimov ◽

E. G. Kozlova*

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Tetranychus Urticae ◽

Spider Mite ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Ornamental Plants ◽

Phytoseiulus Persimilis ◽

Predatory Mite ◽

Control Agent ◽

Pest Mite ◽

Two Spotted Spider Mite

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).

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BIOLOGY OF THE TORTOISE BEETLE, CASSIDA HEMISPHAERICA (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE), A POSSIBLE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENT FOR BLADDER CAMPION, SILENE CUCUBALUS (CARYOPHYLLACEAE), IN CANADA

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/ent108945-9 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 108 (9) ◽

pp. 945-954 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

M. G. Maw

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Host Range ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Ornamental Plants ◽

Control Agent ◽

The Family ◽

Tortoise Beetle

AbstractThe biology of Cassida hemisphaerica Hbst. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is given and its suitability as a biological control agent of bladder campion, Silene cucubalus Wibel, is evaluated. Because its host range includes a number of ornamental plants in the genus Dianthus and the adults will feed on economic plants in the family Chenopodiaceae, introduction of C. hemisphaerica is not at this time justified.

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