Effect of pollen of different plant species on the oviposition of two phytoseiid mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) commonly found in citrus orchards in the Brazilian Amazonia

Abstract

The suitability of the use of pollen to foster the control of citrus pests by facilitating the maintenance of predatory mites in the area has been extensively studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pollen of 13 plant species commonly found in Manaus region (Brazilian Amazonia) on the oviposition of Amblyseius aerialis and Iphiseiodes zuluagai, phytoseiid species abundant in citrus orchards in that region. The study was conducted under laboratory conditions, using mostly pollen grains recently collected in the field. For comparison, a commercially available pollen (ECOPolen) and pollen obtained from two bee species were also included in the study. For about 65% of the evaluated pollen types, the average oviposition was low (less than 0.4 egg/female/day). These differed from other pollen types by the speculate wall (sunflower) or high hygroscopic property (Agave sp., Amaryllis sp., Citrus sinensis, Helianthus annuus and Turnera ulmifolia), or were collected by Apis mellifera. Highest oviposition levels of A. aerialis were obtained on pollen of Typha dominguensis, Elaeis guineensis, Cocos nucifera and the commercial pollen (1.9, 1.5, 0.9 and 0.9 eggs/female/day, respectively). For I. zuluagai, highest levels of oviposition were obtained on E. guineensis, C. nucifera, T. dominguensis, and Elaeis oleifera (1.6, 1.5, 1.2 and 0.9 egg/female/day, respectively). These results suggest that C. nucifera, E. guineensis and E. oleifera, found in the vicinity of citrus orchards in Manaus region, may play a role in maintaining predatory mite populations in such orchards. Complementary studies are needed to investigate the feasibility of maintaining those plants near orchards to increase the abundance of the predators.

Variation in the trophic morphology of Astigmatid mites common in UK beehives

“…Among angiosperm species, pollen grain diameter ranges from less than 10 μm (e.g., in forget-me-not, Myosotis) to over 100 μm (in some species like cotton or cucumber) (Hao et al 2020). They are categorised as very small (< 10 μm), small (10−25 μm), medium (25−50 μm), large (50−100 μm), very large (100−200 μm), or giant (>200 μm) (Ferreira et al 2020). So, considering the maximum effective gape of the three species herein they could only grasp small to medium grains like those of the common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) found in UK gardens (and thus in beehives), coriander, dill, and wild roses for instance (but not Hibiscus pollen, nor pollen from wheat (Golan and Pringle 2017)).…”

Re-description of seven predatory mite species of family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) sourced from Florida citrus groves

“…Sternal shield smooth, lightly sclerotized with three pairs of setae (ST1, ST2, ST3), two pairs of poroids (pst1 and pst2). Distance (ST1-ST3) 59 (58)(59)(60)(61), width (ST2-ST2) 61 (60)(61)(62)(63). Metasternal setae ST4 and a pair of pores (pst3) on metasternal shields.…”

“…Amblyseius aerialis is also a generalist predator with Type-III feeding habit [60]. It was first collected feeding on six-spotted spider mite, Eotetranychus sexmaculatus, and has since been found in citrus orchards from Guadeloupe, Dominican Republic, Florida, and Brazil [51,54,61,62]. Studies showed that it can feed and reproduce on T. urticae [63,64].…”

“…Studies showed that it can feed and reproduce on T. urticae [63,64]. The oviposition rate of A. aerialis was shown to be high on Raoiella indica Hirst (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) and cattail pollen, Typha dominguensis [62,64], as well as on African oil palm pollen (Elaeis guineensis), and coconut pollen (Cocos nucifera) (both Arecaceae) [62], and low on Calacarus heveae Feres (Acari: Eriophyidae) and T. urticae [64].…”

World experience in the production and use of phytoseiid mites

“…Весьма распространенной разновидностью подкормок хищных клещей в теплицах является пыльца, которая рекомендована для поддержания в основном тех видов, которые могут завершать развитие и откладывать яйца, питаясь исключительно данным видом корма (Onzo et al, 2005;Goleva, Zebitz, 2013;Adar et al, 2014;Ferreira et al, 2020;Pascua et al, 2020). В присутствии пыльцы эффективность колонизации хищников повышалась в борьбе с разными видами вредителей: паутинными клещами (Saber, 2013;Duarte et al, 2015;Pijnakker et al, 2016), трипсами (Ramakers, 1990; и белокрылкой (Nomikou et al, 2010).…”