Biological control of twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, with predatory mite, Neoseiulus californicus, in strawberries

Abstract

Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted from 2005 to 2007 to determine the effectiveness of different release times with the predatory mite, Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor), for control of the twospotted spider mite (TSSM), Tetranychus urticae Koch, in strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne). The effect of N. californicus releases over time and on development of TSSM populations during a growing season were evaluated. Our hypothesis was that repeated applications of N. californicus, which is currently recommended by biological control companies, might be unnecessary to attain season-long control of TSSM. In greenhouse trials, three treatments consisting of releases of N. californicus at five-day intervals: day 0, day 5, and day 10, and an untreated control were evaluated. The treatment releases significantly reduced TSSM below the control within five days of each release. Neoseiulus californicus significantly reduced TSSM in treatments with high densities (leaflets with > or =40 TSSM) below that of treatments with lower densities (leaflets with < or = 10 TSSM) demonstrating that if released at a predator: prey ratio of 1:10, timing of release does not alter the effectiveness of N. californicus in controlling TSSM. However, we found that if the ratio of predator: prey remains adequate, N. californicus is a more efficient predator at high TSSM densities. Field studies included three treatments consisting of releases of N. californicus at one-month intervals. All treatments significantly reduced TSSM compared with the control plots (no releases). Releases applied early in the season sustained TSSM significantly below those in the control plots for the whole season. Our results indicate that one release of N. californicus is able to sustained control of TSSM in strawberry throughout a growing season if released when TSSM populations are low early in the season in the southeastern United States.

Toxicity of essential oils of Piper marginatum Jacq. against Tetranychus urticae Koch and Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor)

“…The main form of control for T. urticae is the use of synthetic pesticides, together with biological control involving the generalist mite Neoseiulus californicus McGregor, which is a natural predator of T. urticae found in different regions of Brazil (Fraulo and Liburd, 2007). However, the continual use of conventional acaricides has caused serious damage due to environmental contamination as well as the elimination of N. californicus and various pollinating insects (Motazedian et al, 2012).…”

Multiple natural enemies do not improve two spotted spider mite and flower western thrips control in strawberry tunnels

“…Phytoseiidae is the most important family of acarine predators used in pest management programs (Gerson and Weintraub, 2007;Hoy, 2011). Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot and Neoseiulus californicus (MacGregor) are among the species most used in horticultural and greenhouse crops, having been employed in strawberries for TSSM control (Fraulo and Liburd, 2007;Palevsky et al, 2008). Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) is a Mediterranean phytoseiid species considered as a primary predator of thrips and whiteflies; it has been recommended and used to control TSSM as well as other pests in greenhouse and strawberry crops (Elsawi and Alazzazy, 2007;Gerson and Weintraub, 2007;Alvarado, 2009;Xu and Enkegaard, 2010;Sáenz-de Cabezón et al, 2010;Calvo et al, 2011;Kutuk et al, 2011).…”

Biological Control of Southern Red Mite, &lt;i&gt;Oligonychus ilicis&lt;/i&gt; (Acari: Tetranychidae), in Coffee Plants

“…50 T. urticae/leaflet [28]. It has also been observed that N. californicus, when released at ratios of up to 1:10 (predatory mite/pest) was effective in controlling T. urticae too on strawberry too, both in the field and greenhouse, maintaining the pest mite population at low levels for long period [29].…”