Macrochelid Mites (Mesostigmata: Macrochelidae) as Biological Control Agents

Azevedo, Letícia Henrique de; Emberson, Rowan M.; Esteca, Fernanda de Cássia Neves; Moraes, Gilberto José de

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-15042-0_4

Cited by 15 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 79 publications

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“…For the parasitids, short oviposition periods and high fecundity could be related to the transient habitats preferred by these mites, associated with the fact that migration to new habitats occurs at the deutonymphal stage, that is, before starting oviposition. The longer oviposition periods of the Macrochelidae (also Mesostigmata), which favor the same type of habitats as parasitids, could be explained by the fact they migrate as adults, with mites being able to stop oviposition in one site, migrate, and start oviposition in newly reached sites. For mesostigmatid mites of the family Phytoseiidae, Sabelis reported a general trend for species with shorter oviposition periods to have higher reproduction rate.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

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Biology and predation capacity of Parasitus bituberosus (Acari: Mesostigmata: Parasitidae) on Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), and free‐living nematodes as its complementary prey

Rueda-Ramírez

Rios-Malaver

Varela-Ramírez

et al. 2019

Pest Management Science

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BACKGROUND: Parasitus bituberosus is common in rose fields and nearby vegetation around Bogotá. In rearing units, it is often aggregated, feeding on Frankliniella occidentalis edaphic phases. Preliminary observations suggested predator immatures can not reach adulthood if isolated. The objectives were to evaluate the suitability of F. occidentalis as prey for P. bituberosus, to evaluate free-living nematodes as complementary food, and to confirm the aggregation effect on predator biology. Aggregation types: (1) isolated mites, (2) mites paired only as deutonymphs and early adulthood, and (3) mites always paired. Diets: thrips (T), nematodes (N) and thrips + nematodes (NT). RESULTS: Parasitus bituberosus juveniles did not feed on live F. occidentalis, but developed and oviposited on nematodes.Approximately 77% of the isolated mites died as immatures. Mortality was low (21-23%) when predators were paired at least in the deutonymph and the early adult phase. Female daily predation rates were comparable to other predators on F. occidentalis (≥2.5). Continuously paired mites had high biotic potential, especially when the diet included nematodes (r m ≥ 0.33; R o ≥ 33.90; daily oviposition rate ≥ 10.9). CONCLUSION:The results of this study warrant further investigation of this predator, to evaluate methods for its mass production, inclusion in conservation biocontrol programs and performance against the pest at a larger scale.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

“…gregarius preferred nematodes ( Rhabditis elongata Scheneider) over housefly eggs and larvae. Nematode feeding has also been reported for immatures of several other groups of predatory mites, and it has been well documented in mites of the family Macrochelidae …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biology and predation capacity of Parasitus bituberosus (Acari: Mesostigmata: Parasitidae) on Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), and free‐living nematodes as its complementary prey

Rueda-Ramírez

Rios-Malaver

Varela-Ramírez

et al. 2019

Pest Management Science

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“…In some laboratory studies, predation by Blattisocius tarsalis (Berlese), B. dendriticus Berlese and B. keegani Fox has been researched for their potential as biological control agents [23,26,27]. Recently, the potential of B. mali (Oudemans) in control P. operculella has been studied with promising results [25].Another group that includes abundant predatory mites is the Macrochelidae family in the order Mesostigmata; these species have also proven to be important biological control agents in Diptera species and other pest insects [15,28,29]. Considering the above information, this work aims to assess the potential of B. tarsalis and Macrochels robustulus (Berlese) mites as biological control agents of PTM.…”

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confidence: 99%

Selection of Predatory Mites for the Biological Control of Potato Tuber Moth in Stored Potatoes

Gallego

Caicedo

Gámez

et al. 2020

Insects

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Worldwide, the potato tuber moth (PTM), Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), is one of the most severe pests affecting potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), whether in open-air crops or during tuber storage. This work examines the potential control of this pest by two species of predatory mites, Macrocheles robustulus (Berlese) and Blattisocius tarsalis (Berlese), on pest eggs under laboratory conditions. In the two first assays, the acceptance rate of the pest eggs was assessed for each predatory mite. Then, in a third assay, the functional response of B. tarsalis was studied. The results showed that Macrocheles robustulus did not prey on the pest eggs (number of eggs surviving = 4.33 ± 0.38), whereas B. tarsalis did (number of eggs surviving = 0.5 ± 0.5). Likewise, B. tarsalis showed a type II functional response when it killed the eggs. The results showed the potential use of Blattisocius tarsalis as a biological control agent of P. operculella in potato under storage conditions.

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“…By estimating the magnitude of heritable genetic variation underlying infectious traits, we can make predictions about the evolutionary potential of facultative parasites and begin to test the hypothesis that intermediate parasite strategies serve as potential stepping stones in the evolution of obligate parasitism. Mites, including M. muscaedomesticae, have been considered for biological control of fly pests (Azevedo et al ., ), and we show that they have the potential to become even more effective control agents using artificial selection. More broadly, our study highlights the evolutionary potential of medically important facultative and opportunistic parasites, which is critical for the development of successful and sustainable control measures.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

Experimental evolution of infectious behaviour in a facultative ectoparasite

Durkin

Luong

2018

J of Evolutionary Biology

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Parasitic lifestyles have evolved many times in animals, but how such life-history strategies evolved from free-living ancestors remains a great puzzle. Transitional symbiotic strategies, such as facultative parasitism, are hypothesized evolutionary stepping stones towards obligate parasitism. However, to consider this hypothesis, heritable genetic variation in infectious behaviour of transitional symbiotic strategies must exist. In this study, we experimentally evolved infectivity and estimated the additive genetic variation in a facultative parasite. We performed artificial selection experiments in which we selected for either increased or decreased propensity to infect in a facultatively parasitic mite (Macrocheles muscaedomesticae). Here, infectiousness was expressed in terms of mite attachment to a host (Drosophila hydei) and modelled as a threshold trait. Mites responded positively to selection for increased infectivity; realized heritability of infectious behaviour was significantly different from zero and estimated to be 16.6% (±4.4% SE). Further, infection prevalence was monitored for 20 generations post-selection. Selected lines continued to display relatively high levels of infection, demonstrating a degree of genetic stability in infectiousness. Our study is the first to provide an estimate of heritability and additive genetic variation for infectious behaviour in a facultative parasite, which suggests natural selection can act upon facultative strategies with important implications for the evolution of parasitism.

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Macrochelid Mites (Mesostigmata: Macrochelidae) as Biological Control Agents

Cited by 15 publications

References 79 publications

Biology and predation capacity of Parasitus bituberosus (Acari: Mesostigmata: Parasitidae) on Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), and free‐living nematodes as its complementary prey

Biology and predation capacity of Parasitus bituberosus (Acari: Mesostigmata: Parasitidae) on Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), and free‐living nematodes as its complementary prey

Selection of Predatory Mites for the Biological Control of Potato Tuber Moth in Stored Potatoes

Experimental evolution of infectious behaviour in a facultative ectoparasite

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