Evaluation ofStratiolaelaos scimitusandNeoseiulus barkerifor biological control of thrips on greenhouse cucumbers

Abstract

Stratiolaelaos scimitus Berlese (Acari: Laelapidae) is an important soil-dwelling predatory mite used to control thrips and it is necessary to explore its potential predation capacity. In the present study, the functional response for S. scimitus on the pupae of Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande was examined. In addition, the effects of released S. scimitus for the control of Thrips tabaci Lindeman and F. occidentalis on greenhouse cucumber were evaluated, and compared with that of the common predator Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes (Acari: Phytoseiidae). The results showed that S. scimitus exhibited a Holling type II functional response on thrips pupae. The greenhouse study indicated that the release of N. barkeri and S. scimitus separately at the density of 250 mites/m 2 suppressed the population growth of thrips. In comparison with control plots, N. barkeri and S. scimitus reduced the population of T. tabaci by 76% and 64% in six weeks, respectively. Releases of N. barkeri and S. scimitus led to a reduction in F. occidentalis by 41% and 43%, respectively. Significantly lower densities of both thrips species per leaf were recorded in treatments of individual releases of N. barkeri or S. scimitus than that in the control plots. The findings highlight the potential for utilising N. barkeri and S. scimitus as biological control agents of T. tabaci and F. occidentalis, respectively.

Integrated pest management in western flower thrips: past, present and future

“…However, WFT spend one‐third of their life as pupae in the soil. Different soil‐dwelling predatory mites have been investigated, of which Macrocheles robustulus , Stratiolaelaps scimitus (formerly Hypoaspis miles ) and Gaeolaelaps aculeifer , as well as the rove beetle Dalotia coriaria (formerly Atheta coriaria ), are commercially produced as biocontrol agents against WFT pupae …”

Invasion biology, ecology, and management of Frankliniella occidentalis in China

“…As a generalist with a wide distribution in northern China, E. utilis showed promise to be one of the best biological control agents for WFT (Guo, Jia, Meng, Liu, & Zhang, ). Aside from foliage‐dwelling phytoseiid mites of genera Neoseiulus and Amblyseius , a soil‐dwelling predatory mite Stratiolaelaps scimitus has been reported as a predator of soil‐dwelling stages of WFT and led to a reduction in WFT by 43% at a density of 250 mites/m 2 on greenhouse cucumbers (S. Y. Wu, Gao, Xu, et al, ). In addition, S. Y. Wu, Gao, Xu, et al () and S. Y. Wu, Zhang, Gao, Xu, and Lei () evaluated the potential of the combined release of S. scimitus and N. barkeri against WFT.…”

“…Aside from foliage‐dwelling phytoseiid mites of genera Neoseiulus and Amblyseius , a soil‐dwelling predatory mite Stratiolaelaps scimitus has been reported as a predator of soil‐dwelling stages of WFT and led to a reduction in WFT by 43% at a density of 250 mites/m 2 on greenhouse cucumbers (S. Y. Wu, Gao, Xu, et al, ). In addition, S. Y. Wu, Gao, Xu, et al () and S. Y. Wu, Zhang, Gao, Xu, and Lei () evaluated the potential of the combined release of S. scimitus and N. barkeri against WFT. Although there have some negative interactions between two predatory mites, the results expanded the control range not only on the surface of leaves but in soil.…”

Functional response and prey stage preference of Neoseiulus barkeri on Trasonemus confusus

“…The phytoseiid mite Neoseiulus (Amblyseius) barkeri Hughes (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is a cosmopolitan species, widespread on all continents (De Moraes et al 2004) including China (Xin 1988;Wu et al 1997;Zhang 2003;Wu et al 2014) and a common species in many agroecosystems (Xin 1988;Fan & Petitt 1994a;Wu et al 1997;Beard 2001). N. barkeri is a generalist predatory mite, which feeds on a wide range of pests such as the storage mites, spider mites, broad mites, thrips, and whitefly immatures (e.g., Ramakers & Van Lieburg 1982;Fan & Petitt 1994a, 1994bNomikou et al 2001;Zhang 2003;Wu et al 2014;Hekmat et al 2017). N. barkeri may develop and reproduce on pollen grains of various plants (Van Rijn & Van Houten 1991;Rezaie & Askarieh 2016) which enable N. barkeri to subsist in environments of prey scarcity (Fan & Petitt 1994b).…”

“…Many studies have evaluated the potential of N. barkeri in biological control of pests by determining its demographic response to prey density (e.g., Fan & Petitt 1994a, 1994bJafari et al 2012b;Fang et al 2013;Wu et al 2014;Wu et al 2015;Li et al 2017;Fathipour et al 2018). However, these studies focus on the egg and active nymphal or adult stages but ignore the quiescent larvae and nymphs, making it difficult in fully understanding the general biological control ecology of N. barkeri.…”