Predatory activity of Phytoseiid mites on the developmental stages of coffee ringspot mite (Acari: Phytoseiidae: Tenuipalpidae)

Abstract

-By means of bioassays performed in arenas of 3 cm in diameter, manufactured with coffee leaves floating on water, the phases of the coffee ringspot mite Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) were studies on the preference by several developmental stages of the predaceous mites Euseius alatus DeLeon and Iphiseiodes zuluagai Denmark & Muma. The experiment was conducted in laboratory at 25 ± 2ºC, 70 ± 10% RH and 14 h photophase. The preferred stage of coffee ringspot vector virus was the larva followed by nymph and egg. Adults were least preyed on. In general, the most aggressive phase of the predators was the adult female followed by the nymph; the larval phase was the least aggressive. The average predation of E. alatus and I. zuluagai for the different phases of B. phoenicis were, respectively: larva (79% and 90%) > egg (47% and 83%) > nymph (40% and 77%) > adult (1% and 18%). This result indicated that I. zuluagai is more aggressive than E. alatus in relation to its predation upon B. phoenicis.

Effect of prey density on the functional and numerical responses of two species of predaceous mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

“…The higher aggressiveness of I. zuluagai than those of E. alatus in relation to kill B. phoenicis was also recorded by Reis et al (2000a).…”

“…Eight arenas were placed equidistantly from the other in each petri dish, as described by Reis et al (1998). Both, larvae and nymphs of B. phoenicis were used as prey because those seem to be the stage preferred by Euseius citrifolius Denmark & Muma (Gravena et al 1994), E. alatus and I. zuluagai phytoseiids (Reis et al 2000a). The prey was placed at the following numbers/arena: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 35 (seven replicates), 45 (four replicates), 55 (three replicates) and 70, 100, 125, 200 and 300 (two replicates).…”

Life history of Amblyseius herbicolus (Chant) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on coffee plants

“…The experiments were conducted in water in 15-cm diameter petri dishes (Reis et al 2000). Four experiments were performed, one for each phase of development of B. phoenicis -egg, larva, nymph (protonymph A. herbicolus adult female.…”

Acarofauna da cafeicultura de cerrado em Patrocínio, Minas Gerais

“…Reis et al (2000d) demonstraram o potencial de predação que esses ácaros fitoseídeos possuem, principalmente as fêmeas adultas e ninfas sobre B. phoenicis.…”