Potential of the Blattisocius mali Mite (Acari: Blattisociidae) as a Biological Control Agent of Potato Tubermoth (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Stored Potatoes

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

“…Two "no-choice" bioassay tests were carried out in which acceptance and predation of PTM eggs by M. robustulus and B. tarsalis was assessed. To this end, the methodology of Gallego et al was followed [25], with female mites placed individually in glass test tubes (7.0 cm × 1.0 of diameter). A piece of white cardboard (5.0 cm × 0.9 cm) was placed in each test tube to which five PTM eggs were stuck using a thin paintbrush (00), water was then introduced together with a piece of moistened sponge (0.5 × 0.5 cm).…”

“…Most of the available species belong to the Macrochelidae and Laelapidae families [21,22]. Nevertheless, there are other species, which belong to the same family or to other families, that have a potential practical application but have not yet been studied properly [22].Several studies have considered the use of species belonging to the Blattisociidae family as a potential control agent of mites and pest insects under storage conditions [23][24][25], although little knowledge exists about the biology of many species in this genus [26]. 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].…”

“…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.…”

“…Several studies have considered the use of species belonging to the Blattisociidae family as a potential control agent of mites and pest insects under storage conditions [23][24][25], although little knowledge exists about the biology of many species in this genus [26]. 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].…”

“…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].…”