Predatory Mite Comparison: Tetranychus Treatment

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9-26-17

Transcript:
Tetranychids are a bane to many cultivated plant species, and perhaps the most well-known is the Two-Spotted Spider Mite, Tetranychus urticae. A few other species in the Tetranychus genus are pests, such as the McDaniel Mite and Red Tomato Spider Mite. There are biocontrol initiatives for the control of the aforementioned species, and several notable agents are predatory mites. Not all mites have the same capabilities and each species has a specific environment in which it performs best. Choosing the correct mite can be arduous in some cases, especially for someone who is unfamiliar or not up to date with the scientific literature, as new species and a better understanding of prey-host relations can change the dynamic of biocontrol decisions.

In this video, I will be comparing some of the research literature pertaining to three predatory mites belonging to that prey on Tetranychus urticae specifically. They are:

Phytoseiulus persimilis - Type I
Neoseiulus californicus - Type II/III
Amblyseius andersoni - Type III

These species have been chosen because each one lies on a different level of the revised life system classification for Phytoseiid Mites proposed by James A. McMurty and others, meant to replace a 1997 assessment.

Indeed, a Persimilis population can double in as little as 4 days at ~25 degrees C (M Fazlul Hoque, 2008), and doubles in half the time Tetranychus urticae takes in winter. Relative humidity below 60% can be deleterious to Persimilis (Sabelis 1981).

Secondarily, there is Neoseiulus californicus, which is considered a Type II mite, one that is a selective predator of tetranychid, tarsonemid, and eriophyid mites, as well as pollen. For Californicus specifically, it has the ability to cut through spider mite webbing with its chelicerae (Simoda et. al. 2009), and penetrate silken nests of Oligonychus perseae (Tuttle, Baker & Abatiello) (Montserrat et al. 2008). These adaptations give it an advantage against its prey, and may be more suitable in situations where multiple mite pest families are present. Californicus is poorly suited to controlling Tetranychus evansi according to one study (Escudero & Ferragut 2005), and it can survive on both Broad Mite (Easterbrook et al. 2001) and Cyclamen Mite (Jovicich et al. 2008) populations, the first instar of Western Flower Thrips (Van Baal et al. 2007), and pollen.

Andersoni take longer to develop than Tetranychus urticae in typical greenhouse conditions, but are also long-lived mites, having a lifespan that can reach over 100 days (Amano H., 1978).
In fact, Andersoni has been observed to feed on Grape Powdery Mildew (Pozzebon & Duso, 2008).

Видео Predatory Mite Comparison: Tetranychus Treatment канала Zenthanol