How long do whirligig mites live? A survey of lifespan in Anystidae (Acari: Trombidiformes)

The Anystidae are a family of over 100 species of predatory mites commonly seen in soils and on plants worldwide. A few species of genus Anystis have potential as biocontrol agents against some insect and mite pests. Herein I provide a review of the lifespan of the Anystidae as part of a series on the lifespans in the Acari. The full life cycle in this family includes six immature stages (the egg, prelarva, larva, protonymph, deutonymph and tritonymph) and adult males/females. Life history data are only available for a few species. Developmental times from eggs to adults (44 to 82 days at 21 or 22 °C) were reported for three Anystis species. The total lifespan was measured for only one species (Anystis agilis): 66 days at 21 °C. There are two to three generations per year for Anystis species in the field. Summer aestivation was reported for Anystis baccarum, either as eggs or tritonymphs; aestivating tritonymphs may have a developmental time and total lifespan of over 200 and 300 days, respectively.

Predatory Capacity and Feeding Preference of Pesticide-Resistant Amblyseius deleoni Muma et Denmark (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae)

The population of the predatory mites Amblyseius deleoni had been decreasing due to continuous use of synthetic pesticides in tea plantations. Therefore, this study aimed to select pesticide-resistant individuals from a wild-type population of A. deleoni and to evaluate whether or not the resistant A. deleoni were still sensible as biological control agents. We exposed A. deleoni to (propargite), fungicide (copper oxide) and a neem seed extracts. We found that the propargite-resistant predatory mites consumed larvae and nymphs of Tetranychus urticae more than the control (wild type) (P < 0.05). There was no difference in the number of eggs and adults of T. urticae consumed (P > 0.05). The number of individuals of every stage of T. urticae consumed by copper-oxide resistant A. deleoni was the same (P > 0.05). In general, there were no changes in food preference in the resistant predators to the 3 of pesticides (P > 0.05). There were slight differences on the pattern of predatory capacity among the resistant predators to the three pesticides. Although the predators are resistant to the 3 pesticides, it took longer to consume their prey in comparison to the control. These findings suggested that pesticide-resistant A. deleoni were able to maintain their functions as a biocontrol agent. HIGHLIGHTS The effectiveness of Amblyseius deleoni as a natural predators have decreased due to continuous uses of synthetic pesticides to control pests and diseases on tea plantations Continuous exposure to propargite, CuO and neem seed extracts induced the predatory mites deleoni to develop resistance No significant changes in feeding preference and the predatory capacity of the mite deleoni on T. urticae after becoming resistant to pesticides Exposures deleoni to pesticides may have induced heritable epigenetic changes permanently or just reversible phenotypes without changing the DNA sequence

Phytoseiidae mites associated with native and cultivated solanaceous in Central-West Brazil

Predatory mites represent important biological control agents and those belonging to the Phytoseiidae family are the most promising for the control of phytophagous mites and small insects. The control of key pests of tomato and other solanaceous crops, highlighting phytophagous mites, has been a challenge and the biological control constitutes a promising strategy. Prospecting predatory mites in wild host plants, natural environments as well as in agroecosystems is relevant because these non-crop and crop areas can serve as reservoirs for promising species for biological control programs. This study aimed to know the Phytoseiidae fauna associated with wild and cultivated solanaceous plants in a poorly prospected area in Brazil, the Central-West Region. A detailed taxonomic identification of phytoseiid mites was conducted, and the most important morphological traits are presented for each species. In addition, associated phytophagous mites mainly belonging to the Tetranychidae, Tenuipalpidae and Eriophyoidea were identified. Surveys were carried out in 23 species of solanaceous collected in the Distrito Federal (12 areas) and Goiás State (1 area), from February 2017 to January 2018. Nineteen species of predators belonging to ten genera were recorded: Amblyseius (2 species), Euseius (3), Galendromus (1), Iphiseiodes (1), Neoseiulus (3), Paraphytoseius (1), Phytoseius (3), Proprioseiopsis (2), Typhlodromalus (2, one probably new to science) and Typhlodromips (1). Solanum lycocarpum was the solanaceous that harbored the highest richness (11 species), as well as the one with the highest abundance of phytoseiids (250 specimens). Typhlodromalus aripo was the most common species, being the most abundant (423 specimens; 32%) and registered on the largest number of hosts (14). Many of phytoseiid species found present morphological traits that facilitate their occurrence in leaves with trichomes, as in the case of tomato and other cultivated solanaceous. These traits and the association between predators and phytophagous mites may indicate that these species are promising for biological control programms. Thus, extensive studies to assess the efficiency of the identified predatory mites to control key solanaceous pests are required.

Further records of phytoseiid (Acari: Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) species for Brazil

Phytoseiidae Berlese (Acari: Mesostigmata) is a family of predatory mites found mostly on the aerial plant parts. Several phytoseiid species are commercialized as biological control agents. Even though Brazil is the fifth country with the highest number of valid species, knowledge about the phytoseiid fauna in different Brazilian states is highly variable. The objective of this paper is to report unpublished records of phytoseiids on different Brazilian states. The list includes 20 species belonging to 13 genera. New records are reported for 11 states; the largest number of new records is reported for Santa Catarina (7), followed by Paraná (4).

First report of the predatory mite Amblyseius tamatavensis Blommers, 1974 (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in Peru, and a key for the separation of the Amblyseius species reported so far from that country

Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) is an important family of predatory mites, with some species being commercialized as biological control agents for the control of phytophagous mites and small insects. In Peru, 65 species of this family have been recorded so far, with Amblyseius being the most diverse genus, with 11 species. The aim of this study is to report for the first time the presence of Amblyseius tamatavensis Blommers, 1974 in Peru. In South America, this species has so far been reported only in Brazil and Venezuela. In Peru, A. tamatavensis was found on orange plants [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] in the district of Pangoa, department of Júnin. In the laboratory, collected specimens were observed to feed on Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Ashmed, 1879) (Acari: Eriophyidae) and Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande, 1895) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Studies to verify the potential of this species as a biological control agent for pests occurring in Peru should be conducted. A key to the Amblyseius species recorded in Peru is presented.

Preliminary evaluation of the control effect of two predatory mite species on Eotetranychus sexmaculatus in rubber trees in Hainan Province, China

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.

Diverse non-crop vegetation assemblages as banker plants for predatory mites in strawberry crop

Non-crop plant diversity plays a fundamental role in the conservation of predatory mite (PM) and can be proposed as a banker plant system (BPS). BPSs provide plants that host natural enemies in greenhouses or field crops and may improve the efficiency of biological control. The aim of this study was to investigate if a diverse plant composition could be a suitable BPS for PMs in strawberry crops. A plant inventory characterized 22 species of non-crop plants harboring PMs. The most abundant PMs, in decreasing order, were Neoseiulus californicus, Neoseiulus anonymus, Euseius citrifolius, and Euseius concordis. PMs were randomly distributed among plants. We also found specific associations of Phytoseiidae species and phytophagous or generalist mites on plants. Due to this, four species were deemed suitable as banker plants: Capsicum sp., Leonurus sibiricus, Solanum americanum, and Urochloa mutica. Moreover, these plants combined a high PMs density and a low occurrence or absence of pest-mites. This study suggests shifting the traditional view that BPSs are composed of a limited number of species to use plant assemblages. This contributes to both conservation and augmentative biological control.

Selection of suitable predatory mites against, Panonychus citri (McGregor) (Acari: Tetranychidae) using relative control potential metrics and functional response

Background Selection of suitable predators for the control of the spider mite, Panonychus citri is always a challenge due to the lack of their reliable predicted efficacy. In this laboratory study, biological control potential of Neoseiulus californicus, N. cucumeris and Scapulaseius newsami, against P. citri using the “Relative Control Potential” (RCP) metric to compare their efficacies was evaluated. The functional response type was determined at different prey densities (after 24 h). Results The type II functional responses were observed from all the tested predators feeding on 3 different life stages of P. citri, except N. cucumeris, which was fed only on eggs. All predatory mites preferred eggs of P. citri with a higher attack rate (1.397) in N. cucumeris, followed by N. californicus (1.238) and S. newsami (0.975). Handling time was also lower in N. cucumeris than other mites, with a trend as: for N. cucumeris, eggs > adults > immature stages; for N. californicus, immature stages > eggs > adults, while for S. newsami, eggs > immature stages > adults. The integration of greenhouse abundance and fecundity (%) data resulted in a higher RCP for N. cucumeris than other predators. Conclusion Neoseiulus cucumeris was selected as the most suitable predatory mite for the control of P. citri with a higher RCP and potential to maximum reproduction. S. newsami, which was used for the first time, gave almost similar results compared to N. californicus but with lower efficacy.

Insectoacricides And Insecticides And Neoseiulus Californicus (Parasitiformes, Phytoseiidae) Safe And Great Application In Protected Ground

Toxicity study for predatory mites Neoseiulus californicus pesticides legally permitted for use against pests (aphids, thrips, whiteflies) in the Russian Federation on protected ground is an urgent task. The purpose of determining the possibility of safe use of chemical treatments with drugs (Vertimeca (abamectin), Clipper (bifenthrin), Novaktion (malathion), Admiral (pyriproxyfen), Aktara (thiamethoxam), Confidor (imidacloprid) and Bitoxibacillin (Bacillus thuringiensis var. thuringiensis) against the background of the acariphagus.