The potential of highly nutritious frozen stages of Tyrophagus putrescentiae as a supplemental food source for the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii

Abstract

Astigmatid mites have potential as supplementary prey items to support generalist predator populations in crops. However, applying living prey mites has some disadvantages; if not predated they have the potential to cause crop damage and allergies. In this study, we evaluated various diets based on the astigmatid mite Tyrophagous putrescentiae (Schrank) as a supplemental food source for the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii Ahias-Henriot. Eggs and larvae of T. putrescentiae were reared on a diet of dog food (rich in proteins and fat) or bran (rich in carbohydrate); they were offered either frozen or alive, and either with or without cattail pollen (Typha angustifolia L.). Oviposition rate of A. swirskii fed with frozen mite larvae reared on dog food was similar to the rate observed when they were fed with cattail pollen or living prey mites, but developmental time of A. swirskii was longer on this frozen diet than on a diet of living prey mites or pollen. Both living and frozen prey mites were, in contrast with cattail pollen, not suitable for oviposition by western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande. In a greenhouse study, the use of frozen prey mite stages as supplemental food on chrysanthemum plants allowed populations of A. swirskii to establish, but not increase; in contrast, provision of living prey mites and pollen increased A. swirskii populations on plants. Hence, our study shows that living prey mites, but not frozen prey mites, had the greatest potential as a supplemental food source for A. swirskii.

Predators and Parasitoids-in-First: From Inundative Releases to Preventative Biological Control in Greenhouse Crops

“…The following feeding mites could be used to improve the reproduction and survival of predatory mites: Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Pirayeshfar et al, 2020), Carpoglyphus lactis (L.) (Nguyen et al, 2013), Thyreophagus entomophagus (Laboulbene), Suidasia medanensis (Oudemans) (Sánchez et al, 2019), and Aleuroglyphus ovatus (Troupeau) (Xia et al, 2012;Ferrero et al, 2016;Rueda-Ramírez et al, 2018). However, very few trials have been performed at plant level (Hoogerbrugge et al, 2008;Vila et al, 2017;Pirayeshfar et al, 2020) and studies on the actual effect of these strategies on pest control are limited. Pirayeshfar et al (2020) succeeded in increasing Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot numbers on chrysanthemum plants by providing living T. putrescentiae per plant, but failed to do so using frozen T. putrescentiae.…”

“…However, very few trials have been performed at plant level (Hoogerbrugge et al, 2008;Vila et al, 2017;Pirayeshfar et al, 2020) and studies on the actual effect of these strategies on pest control are limited. Pirayeshfar et al (2020) succeeded in increasing Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot numbers on chrysanthemum plants by providing living T. putrescentiae per plant, but failed to do so using frozen T. putrescentiae. Pirayeshfar et al (2020) suggested that the different diets used to rear the prey mites may have an influence on the population increase of the predatory mites.…”

“…Pirayeshfar et al (2020) succeeded in increasing Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot numbers on chrysanthemum plants by providing living T. putrescentiae per plant, but failed to do so using frozen T. putrescentiae. Pirayeshfar et al (2020) suggested that the different diets used to rear the prey mites may have an influence on the population increase of the predatory mites. Nowadays, some growers disperse the astigmatid mites C. lactis or T. entomophagus to supplement the released predatory mites with food.…”

Optimal rearing medium for the population growth of the predatory mite, Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

“…However, a predator's performance is generally affected by the nutritional quality of prey, which, in turn, is primarily influenced by the prey's diet. For example, the larval stages of the prey mite, T. putrescentiae, reared on a protein-rich and fat-rich diet (dog food), resulted in a high oviposition rate of A. swirskii (Pirayeshfar et al 2020). However, since T. putrescentiae could feed on soft plant tissues and damage crops (Oliveira et al 2007), it is unsuitable as alternative prey when inoculating the predatory mite in greenhouses or agricultural fields.…”

Green Challenges: Systeemaanpak biologische plaagbestrijding met gebruik van functionele biodiversiteit : Deel 1: Chrysant

“…Wat hiervoor de reden kan zijn is nog onbekend. Uit onderzoek vanPirayeshfara et al (2020) blijkt dat Californische trips zich niet kan ontwikkelen op T. putrescentiae prooimijten. Of Californische trips zich wel kan ontwikkelen op T. entomophagus prooimijten is nog niet eerder onderzocht.…”