What habitat does spiny snout mite occupy in Tasmania

2015 ◽  
Vol 68 ◽  
pp. 446-446
Author(s):  
D.J. Wilson ◽  
P.J. Gerard

Spiny snout mite (Neomolgus capillatus) is a potential biocontrol agent for clover flea (Sminthurus viridis) a white clover pest on dairy farms in warmer and wetter parts of New Zealand In the 1990s this mite was introduced from Brittany France into Tasmania for clover flea control Results during the release programme were highly promising and subsequent anecdotal farmer reports indicate widespread decreases in damage As N capillatus is a predatory mite and already known to attack nontarget organisms habitat specificity will determine whether it could be introduced into New Zealand without risk to native insects To assess this pastures on nine of the original Tasmanian release farms and adjacent nontarget habitats ranging from bush wetlands eucalypt stands to sand dune country were sampled in April 2014 Litter samples were collected heat extracted and mite species identified Neomolgus capillatus was found at effective densities in pastures that had good clover cover Where present it displaced Bdellodes spp mites that are ineffective against clover flea No N capillatus were found in the nontarget habitats all of which lacked clover and contained other predatory mites including Bdellodes spp Therefore the preference by N capillatus for lush pastures makes it an excellent prospect for introduction as a biocontrol agent into clover flea prone regions of New Zealand

2005 ◽  
Vol 58 ◽  
pp. 131-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.M. Eden ◽  
D.J. Wilson ◽  
D.L. Hackell

Clover flea (Sminthurus viridis) is found throughout New Zealand and is a major economic pest of white clover (Trifolium repens) in localised areas of the North Island Predatory mites are important biocontrol agents of clover flea in Australia but little is known of the efficacy of the predatory mite species present in New Zealand A major challenge to assessing mite efficacy has been poor survival of clover flea in laboratory assays It was found that adult clover flea survival was higher when they were contained with soil whereas soil was not essential for the survival of younger nymphs The predatory ability of Pergamasus is still unclear as there was significant mortality in one experiment containing the mites but no significant difference in mortality in the assay that followed


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Inga C. Christiansen ◽  
Sandra Szin ◽  
Peter Schausberger

Abstract Learning is changed behavior following experience, and ubiquitous in animals including plant-inhabiting predatory mites (Phytoseiidae). Learning has many benefits but also incurs costs, which are only poorly understood. Here, we addressed learning, especially its costs, in the generalist predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii, a biocontrol agent of several herbivores, which can also survive on pollen. The goals of our research were (1) to scrutinize if A. swirskii is able to learn during early life in foraging contexts and, if so, (2) to determine the costs of early learning. In the experiments, we used one difficult-to-grasp prey, i.e., thrips, and one easy-to-grasp prey, i.e., spider mites. Our experiments show that A. swirskii is able to learn during early life. Adult predators attacked prey experienced early in life (i.e., matching prey) more quickly than they attacked unknown (i.e., non-matching) prey. Furthermore, we observed both fitness benefits and operating (physiological) costs of early learning. Predators receiving the matching prey produced the most eggs, whereas predators receiving the non-matching prey produced the least. Thrips-experienced predators needed the longest for juvenile development. Our findings may be used to enhance A. swirskii’s efficacy in biological control, by priming young predators on a specific prey early in life.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 508
Author(s):  
Wendy Lam ◽  
Quentin Paynter ◽  
Zhi-Qiang Zhang

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. 


2003 ◽  
Vol 56 ◽  
pp. 174-179
Author(s):  
M. Walter ◽  
F.J.L. Stavely ◽  
R.B. Chapman ◽  
J.K. Pell ◽  
T.R. Glare ◽  
...  

Zoophthora radicans an entomophthoralean fungus is a potential biocontrol agent for a wide range of insect pests The mortality of six insect species inoculated with twelve Z radicans isolates from different hosts found in New Zealand was evaluated using a bioassay Zoophthora radicans isolates originating from the host being tested were generally but not always more effective than isolates originating from other species For example lightbrown apple moth (LBAM) was highly susceptible to isolates Z2 and Z6 from leafrollers (96 and 89 mortality respectively) but was not susceptible to any isolates from diamondback moth (DBM) (mortality lt;5 Plt;0001) DBM was highly susceptible to all isolates from DBM (gt;96 mortality) but only moderately susceptible to leafroller isolates (lt;66 Plt;0001) Although resting spore production was low overall some isolates produced more resting spores in certain hosts such as Z2 and Z6 in LBAM (Plt;0001) and Z8 and Z5 in DBM (Plt;005)


1998 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 345-346
Author(s):  
T. Abbey ◽  
L. Pundt

Abstract A test was conducted in Cheshire, CT, to determine the efficacy of five miticides and two predatory mite species for control of TSSM. There was also an untreated check. Treatments were arranged in a RCBD with four replications. Plots consisted of 12 container-grown plants in a 1.7 ft2 plastic flat. The trial cultivar ‘Variegate’ was planted on 1 Apr. Miticides were applied to the foliage from the top and sides with a Solo backpack sprayer at 60 psi with 35.3 gpa. Predatory mites were placed into the treatment plots by gently brushing them off of the lip of the shipment container. All treatments were applied on 18 Jul. Five leaves were removed from each treatment plot on 17, 25 Jul and 1, 8 and 15 Aug to count the eggs and motile TSSM. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and LSD.


Biologia ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ján Praslička ◽  
Andrea Barteková ◽  
Janka Schlarmannová ◽  
Radovan Malina

AbstractDuring 2005–2007, 1,332 individuals of predatory mites were found in integrated and ecological orchards in Slovakia. Seven predatory mite species of the family Phytoseiidae, namely Phytoseius echinus, Phytoseiulus macropilis, Euseius finlandicus, Typhlodromus pyri, Paraseiulus triporus, Amblyseius andersoni and Neoseiulella tiliarum, were identified. Out of 1,332 individuals, 519 (39.0%) were found in the apple orchards and 813 (61.0%) in the pear orchards. Out of all predatory mite individuals, 460 (34.5%) were found in the integrated pest management system (IPM) and 872 (65.5%) in the ecological pest management system (EPM). In apple orchards, P. echinus was dominant and constituted 49.3% of the detected mites. In pear orchards, E. finlandicus was dominant and constituted 48.7% of the detected mites. Typhlodromus pyri was also abundant, especially in pear orchards. The other species were less abundant.


EDIS ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2005 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena M. Rhodes ◽  
Oscar E. Liburd

The predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) has characteristics of both type II specialist predatory mites and type III generalist predatory mites. N. californicus prefers Tetranychid mites as food, but will also consume other mite species, small insects, such as thrips, and even pollen when the primary prey is unavailable. N. californicus is often used to control the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, and other phytophagous mites on various crops in temperate and subtropical regions around the world.  This document is EENY-359, one of a series of the Entomology and Nematology Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date November 2005. EENY-359/IN639: Predatory Mite, Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Arachnida: Acari: Phytoseiidae) (ufl.edu)


Author(s):  
Huihua Hao ◽  
Peizheng Li ◽  
Tianwei Xu ◽  
Qiqi Wu ◽  
Fangping Zhang ◽  
...  

In this study, we aimed to clarify the effect of predatory mites on controlling the rubber tree pest mite Eotetranychus sexmaculatus (Riley) and explored basic application of the biocontrol technology “using predatory mites to control pest mites” to rubber trees. We selected two commercial species with high predation capacity from five species of predatory mites for further field-release tests. The results showed that among the five predatory mite species, Phytoseiulus persimilis (Athias‐Henriot) and Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) showed the highest and lowest daily average predation amounts on E. sexmaculatus, respectively, and that the commercial predatory mites Amblyseius swirskii (Athias‐Henriot) and Neoseiulus barkeri (Hughes) were demonstrated relatively high predation capacities on E. sexmaculatus and represent the ideal species for field release. Additionally, we found that field release by a hanging release sachet was suitable for a low field-population density of pest mites, and that predatory mites could be released at a dose of one sachet per tree and/or every other row or every other tree according to the actual situation of the pest mites. If the field population of E. sexmaculatus is at the peak egg-laying period, the release of A. swirskii should be top priority, which will lead to high control efficiency within 2 to 3 weeks. In case of low field-population density of E. sexmaculatus or a rainy season, top priority should be given to the release of N. barkeri, which might lead to high control efficiency within 3 to 4 weeks. The results showed that the release of A. swirskii had a more fast-acting effect with a higher control efficiency than N. barkeri at the early stage of release, whereas N. barkeri exhibited a better release effect with greater persistence than A. swirskii at the late stage of release.


1993 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 369-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. G. Hill ◽  
D. J. Allan ◽  
R. C. Henderson ◽  
J. G. Charles

AbstractBetween 1987 and 1989, three predatory beetle species (Chilocorus bipustulatus(Linnaeus),C. infernalis(Linnaeus) andC. cacti(Linnaeus)) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and two predatory mite species (Hemisarcoptes coccophagusMeyer andH. cooremaniThomas) were imported and released for the biological control of armoured scale insects (Hemiberlesia rapaxComstock,H. lataniaeSignoret andAspidiotus nerii Bouché) on kiwifruit and shelter trees in New Zealand.Hemisarcoptes coccophagushas established onHemiberlesia lataniaeinfestations on Lombardy poplar (Populus nigravar. Italica) shelter trees at three sites. Detailed studies at one of the release sites over a period spanning nine to 24 months after release, showed that densities ofHemiberlesia lataniaein samples with mites fell to less than 20% of the level in control trees. Assessment of the dispersion characteristics of the mite suggested that the adults are repelled by the presence of other mites on a host.Hemisarcoptes coccophaguscan use two species of New Zealand ladybirds (Scymnus fagusBroun andHalmus chalybeusBoisduval) for phoresy.Hemisarcoptes coccophagusspread naturally to the control trees between 20 and 24 months after release, though the means of dispersal between trees is not known.


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