Causes of mite pest outbreaks in bamboo forests in Fujian, China: analyses of mite damage in monoculture versus polyculture stands

Abstract

Damage caused by the phytophagous mites Schizotetranychus nanjingensis Ma & Yuan, Aponychus corpuzae Rimando and/or Aculus bambusae Kuang to the moso bamboo (Phyllostaychs pubescens) was examined for ten pairs of monoculture versus polyculture forests at six locations in Fujian, China. Mite damage in the monoculture forests (35%) was on average twice as high as that in the polyculture forests (17.5% < the injury level of 20%). The relative contribution of each mite species to total damage varied among sites, but Ap. corpuzae was the dominant pest at all sites except one, where S. nanjingensis was the major pest. Polyculture forests overall had more predatory mites than monoculture forests. Mite damage was inversely correlated with the altitudes of individual forests across sites. These results are discussed in light of ecological theories on the effects of plant diversity on animal abundance and suggestions for possible measures to control pest mites on bamboo in Fujian.

Effects of Clone, Silvicultural, and Miticide Treatments on Cottonwood Leafcurl Mite (Acari: Eriophyidae) Damage in PlantationPopulus

“…The resource concentration hypothesis (Root 1973) states that increased pest populations and outbreaks are more likely in monocultural plantings because of the large quantities of food present. Mite damage in China was consistently higher in bamboo monocultures compared with polycultures (Zhang et al 2000). Although this study did not compare Populus monocultures and polycultures, damage in intensively managed plantations is expected to be greater than that of polycultures or native Populus stands.…”

“…(Krantz 1973); and bamboo, Phyllostachy spp. (Zhang et al 2000). Sumac and willow are present at the study plantation, and tomatoes and bamboo are present within 5 km of our study site.…”

“…The fourth objective was to evaluate the efÞcacy of Kelthane MF, a commercially available miticide, on A. lobuliferus. Monocultural plantings often increase the chances of pest outbreaks because of reduced natural enemy habitat and the overabundance of pest food (Root 1973, Nowak and Berisford 2000, Zhang et al 2000. Previous researchers attained excellent A. lobuliferus control using other Kelthane formulations and general insecticides (Newsome and Solomon 1980).…”

The possibility of sustainable pest management by introducing bio-diversity: simulations of pest mite outbreak and regulation

“…Outbreaks of pest mites on Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) have occurred in China since the late 1980s, and many bamboo forests have been lost in Fujian province (Zhang and Zhang 2000). We launched a JapanChina joint research initiative to restore the regions Moso bamboo forests.…”

Responses to stimuli from Schizotetranychus nanjingensis on bamboo leaves by two predatory mite species (Acari: Tetranychidae, Phytoseiidae)

“…Although T. bambusae is the dominant predator of S. nanjingensis in bamboo forests in Fujian and is capable of responding to densities of S. nanjingensis in laboratory functional response experiments, S. nanjingensis has reached pest status in most bamboo forests in Fujian, presumably because of the low density of T. bambusae in disturbed monoculture forests (Zhang et al 1999b;Zhang 2000c;Zhang et al 2001). One approach for the biological control of this pest mite is to use the augmentative releases of predatory mites (e.g.…”