Influence of selected fruit tree pollen on life history of Euseius stipulatus (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Abstract

Euseius stipulatus (Athias-Henriot) is a predatory mite widespread in the Mediterranean region considered to be important for the biological control of spider mites in citrus orchards. Development, survival and reproduction of this phytoseiid mite feeding on seven commercially obtained pollen were studied under constant laboratory conditions (20 +/- 1 degrees C, RH 65 +/- 5%, photoperiod 16L: 8D h). Mites were kept individually at rearing units with ample quantity of almond (Prunus amygdalus Batch), apple (Malus domestica Borkh), apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.), cherry (Prunus avium L.), pear (Pyrus communis L.), plum (Prunus domestica L.) and walnut (Juglans regia L.) pollen as food source. Developmental time from egg to adult varied between the several pollen tested from 8.38 +/-0.08 to 9.58 +/- 0.11 days for females and from 8.23 +/-0.12 and 9.07 +/-0.12 days for males. Female longevity varied from 11.53 +/- 1.22 to 51.38 +/- 2.45 days, while fecundity ranged from 22.84 +/- 2.30 to 43.61 +/- 3.78 eggs/female. The predator was unable to reproduce when feeding on walnut pollen. Data were submitted to life table analysis and values of the intrinsic rate of increase were derived, ranging from 0.079 to 0.146 (day(-1)). The cumulative Weibull function that was used to describe the age specific survival of females produced excellent fits to the survival data. Results show that almond, plum, cherry and apricot pollen possess higher nutritional value for E. stipulatus than pear and apple pollen and thus may contribute in sustaining and increasing the predator population in field conditions. Walnut pollen can be utilized by the predator only to survive during short periods of time when principal or alternative food sources are scarce.

Life Table Parameters and Consumption Rate of Cydnodromus picanus Ragusa, Amblyseius graminis Chant, and Galendromus occidentalis (Nesbitt) on Avocado Red Mite Oligonychus yothersi (McGregor) (Acari: Phytoseiidae, Tetranychidae)

“…When O. yothersi population density is low and within a context of habitat management, it would be possible to carry out preventive releases of C. picanus starting in September using H. incana pollen, as well as avocado pollen, as an alternative food, since this Brassicaceae is associated to avocado orchards in the Valparaíso Region and could be used as a refuge in hillside commercial plantations (Bouras and Papadoulis, 2005;Palevsky et al, 2007b).…”

“…Cydnodromus picanus achieved a higher rm than the red mite, signifying that this population has the capacity to control O. yothersi across generations, that is, this species of phytoseiid is an efficient natural enemy of the phytophage mite, and its potential use should be evaluated in the integrated management of avocado mites. Regarding phytoseiid field releases, all the factors that can influence its effectiveness on a specific phytophage mite must be considered, such as domatia of the host plant (morphological structures of the leaf: depressions, tricomes, cavities between the midrib, and secondary veins that provide refuge for the predator mites generating mutualism) (Matos et al, 2004), chaetotaxia of the predator (length of the dorsoventral setae) , alternative food availability (Bouras and Papadoulis, 2005), host plant, and leaf area (Collier et al, 2007).…”

“…The generalist species do not require large mite pest population densities to be established in an orchard, and migrate to other places through aerial dispersion if they lack prey (Colfer et al, 2003;Tixier et al, 2006). In the absence of phytophagous mites, the generalists have the capacity to use food alternatives such as pollen grains, fungi spores, insects in the immature stages, plant nectar, and exudates Nomikou et al, 2005;Bouras and Papadoulis, 2005).…”

Gestión Integrada de la araña roja Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae): optimización de su control biológico en clementinos

“…(Ferragut et al 1988;AbadMoyano et al 2009a). This phytoseiid is considered an omnivorous predator that can exclusively feed and successfully reproduce on pollen (Ferragut et al 1987;Bouras & Papadoulis 2005;Pina et al 2012) and according to McMurtry and Croft (1997) is type IV specialized pollen feeder/generalist predator life-style. The role of E. stipulatus as a biological control agent is limited to some tetranychid species GraftonCardwell et al 1997) is phytoseiid is considered a key player in the biological control of P. citri in Spain (García-Marí et al 1983;García-Marí et al 1986;Ferragut et al 1988;Ferragut et al 1992) and therefore, its conservation is a key factor for the success of IPM (Ferragut et al 1988;Urbaneja et al 2008 chemical control is still needed in some cases .…”

“…Recently, a mono-specific cover of the perennial grass Festuca arundinacea Schreber (Poaceae) has demonstrated to improve the regulation of T. urticae in clementine trees when compared with a wild cover or bare soil, both by reducing the successful settlement of T. urticae in clementine mandarin trees (Aguilar-Fenollosa et al 2011a) and by enhancing the populations of more efficient specialist predators relative to generalist pollen feeder predators (Aguilar-Fenollosa et al 2011b). Furthermore, the use of Euseius stipulatus is an omnivorous predator that can exclusively feed and successfully reproduce on pollen (Ferragut et al 1987;Bouras & Papadoulis 2005) and its role as a biological control agent is limited to some tetranychid species, other than T. urticae, as…”