Predation interactions among henhouse‐dwelling arthropods, with a focus on the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Analysis of the poorly explored food webs of henhouse-dwelling arthropods would improve biological control against the poultry red mite (PRM) Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer). This study aimed to identify trophic links among native predatory arthropods, PRM, and alternative preys. In vitro predation tests were carried out to assess (i) the ability of native predators to feed on PRM juvenile and adult stages in two physiological statuses (unfed and freshly blood-fed) in the absence of any physical barrier, (ii) predator preferences between PRM and astigmatic mites, and (iii) predation interactions between PRM predators. RESULTS: Ten arthropod taxa fed on PRM with predation rates ranging from 4% to 95% in our experimental conditions. They belonged to (i) Acari: Androlaelaps casalis (Berlese), Cheyletus spp., Macrocheles muscaedomesticae (Scopoli), M. penicilliger (Berlese), Parasitus fimetorum (Berlese), Dendrolaelaps spp. and Uroobovella fimicola (Berlese); (ii) other Arachnida: Lamprochernes nodosus (Schrank) (Pseudoscorpionida) and a linyphiid spider; and (iii) Insecta: Lyctocoris campestris (Fabricius). These predators varied in their preference for PRM stages and physiological statuses (unfed or freshly blood-fed). When given a choice, most predators preferred to feed on PRM than astigmatic mites. Bidirectional predation occurred within two pairs of PRM predators (M. penicilliger-Lamprochernes nodosus and A. casalis-Cheyletus spp.), and M. penicilliger had a 100% predation rate on A. casalis. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the potential of various arthropod predators occurring naturally in poultry houses for conservation and augmentative biological control of PRM. Predation interactions between these predators should be accounted for before developing biocontrol agents against PRM.

Population‐level impact of native arthropod predators on the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae

“…The effect on D. gallinae regulation of potential interactions between two native predatory mites known for reciprocal predation (Zriki et al, 2020) was investigated using two test modalities (Table 2). They consisted in inoculating either Cheyletus spp.…”

“…While native parasitoids are rare in European commercial henhouses (Roy et al, 2017), a high diversity of arthropod predators has been reported from these strongly anthropized systems (Axtell & Arends, 1990;Brady, 1970;Faleiro et al, 2015;Horn et al, 2016;Lesna et al, 2009;Roy et al, 2017;Silva et al, 2013;Young et al, 2019). The potential for predation on D. gallinae by several native predatory mites, a spider, a pseudoscorpion and three insects has been reported from in vitro tests (Lesna et al, 2009;Stockton, 2004;Toldi et al, 2017;Zriki et al, 2020). Significant covariations between abundances of three taxa of predatory mites and of D. gallinae suggest that these predators are indeed associated to the pest in henhouses (Roy et al, 2020).…”

Evaluating the link between predation and pest control services in the mite world

“…The predation of Cheyletus spp. by A. casalis observed in the laboratory (Zriki et al, 2020) may induce a cascade effect in henhouses, which could result in a positive effect of A. casalis on D. gallinae (Abrams, 1992). Furthermore, the antibodies that are produced by hens in response to native D. gallinae antigens significantly reduce the mite population growth (Bartley et al., 2017).…”

“…The control of this pest mainly relies on synthetic neurotoxic acaricides (Brauneis, Zoller, Williams, Zschiesche, & Heckeroth, 2017;Chauve, 1998), which increases environmental pollution risk through Lab-reared predatory mites have been sold in recent years for inundative biological control, although with limited success (Knapp, van Houten, van Baal, & Groot, 2018). Native mite assemblages from British, Brazilian, and French layer farms have been shown to be relatively rich (Brady, 1970a(Brady, , 1970bHorn, Granich, Horn Körbes, Liberato Da Silva, & Ferla, 2018;Roy et al, 2017), and several taxa have been shown to feed on D. gallinae in vitro (Zriki, Blatrix, & Roy, 2020). Nevertheless, no study has, to date, attempted to assess whether naturally occurring predators could affect the dynamics of D. gallinae.…”

Possibilities for IPM Strategies in European Laying Hen Farms for Improved Control of the Poultry Red Mite (Dermanyssus gallinae): Details and State of Affairs

“…Naturally-occurring enemies can be of great benefit to control pest species. For D. gallinae, being an ectoparasite, using enemies that share his living environment is promising (80,104). The natural communities of enemies of D. gallinae occurring in the layer house should be valued, as these already can (partly) control the poultry red mites.…”