Biocontrol of Two-spotted Spider Mite Tetranychus urticae on Dwarf Hops by the Phytoseiid Mites Phytoseiulus persimilis and Neoseiulus californicus

Two female Phytoseiulus persimilis and their offspring eliminated two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae from hop leaf discs faster than two female Neoseiulus californicus and their offspring at 25°C. A combination of one female of each species and their offspring eliminated spider mites faster than the N. californicus alone, but slower than P. persimilis alone. Air relative humidities of 55% and 93% had no effect on predation. Both predator species cannibalised eggs and juveniles when spider mite numbers were low. In field experiments in 1996, fewer spider mites were recorded where P. persimilis was released, irrespective of the presence of N. californicus. Pest numbers on cv. 'First Gold' were lower than on cv. 'Herald'. No differences were recorded between the numbers of spider mite eggs in predator release treatments on 'First Gold', but fewer active stages of spider mites were recorded on plots with P. persimilis than controls soon after the time of peak pest population densities. On 'Herald', fewer spider mite active stages and eggs were recorded where predators were released than on untreated controls.     

Biological, Chemical and Integrated Control of Two-spotted Spider Mite Tetranychus urticae on Dwarf Hops

Chemical, biological and integrated programmes for the control of two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, were compared on dwarf hops in 1997 and 1998. In both years integrated control, which consisted of an application of the ovicidal acaricide clofentezine followed by a release of the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis at 10 individuals per plant, was the most effective treatment. Similar numbers of spider mites were recorded on plots that were treated with P. persimilis only or with a single application of the acaricide tebufenpyrad, and plots with either of these treatments had higher levels of infestation than the plots under integrated control. The highest numbers of spider mites were found on the untreated plots. This study indicates that integrated control of T. urticae using clofentezine in conjunction with P. persimilis is likely to be more effective than an approach based on chemical or biological measures only. It is suggested that an integrated system would have the added benefit over a pesticide-only programme of reducing pressure on the pest for the selection of strains resistant to acaricides.     

Integrated Management of Two-spotted Spider Mite Tetranychus urticae on Hops using Hop ß-acids as an Antifeedant Together with the Predatory Mite Phytoseiulus persimilis

The effects on population development of two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae by sprays of hop β-acids, a repellent and antifeedant of T. urticae, together with an inoculative release of the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis were compared on tall and dwarf hops. The combination of the semiochemical with the predator was more effective than either factor singly on both hop types. The highest numbers of spider mites and their eggs were recorded on untreated plots. The sprays of β-acids slowed the rate of increase of the pest and contributed more to the effect of the combined treatment early in the season when the predator was establishing itself on the crop. By harvest time, the predator was the more influential of the two factors.     

Application of Two-spotted Spider Mite Tetranychus urticae for Plant-pest Interaction Studies

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, is a ubiquitous polyphagous arthropod herbivore that feeds on a remarkably broad array of species, with more than 150 of economic value. It is a major pest of greenhouse crops, especially in Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae (e.g., tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini) and greenhouse ornamentals (e.g., roses, chrysanthemum, carnations), annual field crops (such as maize, cotton, soybean, and sugar beet), and in perennial cultures (alfalfa, strawberries, grapes, citruses, and plums)^1,2. In addition to the extreme polyphagy that makes it an important agricultural pest, T. urticae has a tendency to develop resistance to a wide array of insecticides and acaricides that are used for its control^3-7.T. urticae is an excellent experimental organism, as it has a rapid life cycle (7 days at 27 °C) and can be easily maintained at high density in the laboratory. Methods to assay gene expression (including in situ hybridization and antibody staining) and to inactivate expression of spider mite endogenous genes using RNA interference have been developed^8-10. Recently, the whole genome sequence of T. urticae has been reported, creating an opportunity to develop this pest herbivore as a model organism with equivalent genomic resources that already exist in some of its host plants (Arabidopsis thaliana and the tomato Solanum lycopersicum)¹¹. Together, these model organisms could provide insights into molecular bases of plant-pest interactions.Here, an efficient method for quick and easy collection of a large number of adult female mites, their application on an experimental plant host, and the assessment of the plant damage due to spider mite feeding are described. The presented protocol enables fast and efficient collection of hundreds of individuals at any developmental stage (eggs, larvae, nymphs, adult males, and females) that can be used for subsequent experimental application.     

The Effects of Clofentezine on Life-table Parameters in Two-spotted Spider Mite Tetranychus urticae

Sublethal effects of the growth inhibitor, clofentezine, on life-table parameters of Tetranychus urticae Koch females treated at different developmental stages with a concentration causing >90% mortality were investigated. Females which survived treatment as 'early' (0-24 h old) eggs produced 12% more offspring than the untreated females during the first five days of oviposition. This resulted in a significant rise in the intrinsic rate of increase (rj): 0.324, compared to 0.299 in the untreated females. This effect may be interpreted as hormoligosis. Clofentezine treatment at any other developmental stage of T. urticae significantly decreased both longevity and fertility of female survivors. Females which survived treatment either as 'late' (72-96 h old) eggs or larvae had 2.6 times lower net reproductive rate (R0) than the untreated females, and the rj values were significantly lower: 0.242 and 0.215, respectively (0.285 in the untreated females). Females which survived treatment either as protonymphs or deutonymphs had 3.9 times and 6 times lower R0, respectively. Corresponding rj values were 0.178 and 0.146, respectively (0.247 in the untreated females). The clofentezine treatment at all stages influenced the age distribution of survivors. The sublethal effects of clofentezine and their impact on T. urticae management are discussed.     

Improving the Control of Tetranychus urticae on Edible Glasshouse Crops Using a Specialist Coccinellid ( Stethorus punctillum Weise) and a Generalist Mite ( Amblyseius californicus McGregor) as Biocontrol Agents

Current glasshouse biological control practice relies on regular prophylactic introductions of one or two 'best' species of natural enemy. Whilst this is effective for much of the time, occasional failures occur due to factors such as differences in response to seasonal changes in environmental conditions and/or host plant effects. This study looks at the predatory behaviour of a specialist coccinellid, Stethorus punctillum Weise, and a generalist mite, Amblyseius californicus McGregor (which predate on the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae ) in order to assess how they responded to temperatures and relative humidities typical of glasshouse conditions on four edible crop plant species. Activity (distance covered, time spent walking, walking speed, angular velocity, and turning rate) was recorded at 20, 25 and 30 o C and at relative humidity (RH) levels of 33, 65 and 90%, on tomato, pepper, aubergine and cucumber leaves, and analysed using video-computer techniques. The results show that the activity of S. punctillum significantly increased at higher temperature levels. Host plant species also strongly influenced the performance of the predator, with it being most active on pepper and tomato and least active on aubergines. RH had no significant influence. The activity and predation by A. californicus increased at low humidity levels, especially in terms of time spent moving and number of prey killed. Temperature levels had no significant influence, but host plant species strongly influenced the performance of the predator, which was most active on pepper, and least active on aubergines. Further research was conducted with semi-field trials to investigate the efficacy in controlling TSSM with different combination of predators. When contrasting the commercially available predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis , used alone, compared with its use in a treatment with a combination of predator species, there was a stronger decrease in TSSM numbers on the crop plants in the latter treatment.     

Pre-adult development of Phytoseiulus persimilis on diets of Tetranychus urticae and Tetranychus lintearius: implications for the biological control of Ulex europaeus

Predation by the phytoseiid mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis, is considered a major threat to the effectiveness of biological control of gorse, Ulex europaeus, using Tetranychus lintearius. To assess this threat and to determine if the impact of P. persimilis on T. lintearius populations is comparable to its impact on T. urticae populations, its development and predator : prey generation time ratios were assessed. The pre-adult mortality and development time of two populations of P. persimilis fed on two diets, T. urticae and T. lintearius, were determined at two temperatures, 14 and 24°C. There were no significant differences in either mortality or development time between the two populations of P. persimilis at these temperatures. There is therefore no evidence that the two tested populations of P. persimilis are behaving as different strains. Similarly, diet had no significant effect on either mortality or development time at these temperatures. At 14°C the mortality of P. persimilis was significantly higher and development was significantly longer than at 24°C. Using pre-adult development as a surrogate for generation times, predator : prey generation time ratios were calculated between P. persimilis and both T. urticae and T. lintearius using data from this and other studies. The predator : prey generation time ratios between P. persimilis and T. lintearius were lower than those between P. persimilis and T. urticae. These results indicate that the impact of P. persimilis on T. lintearius populations is likely to be comparable to its impact on T. urticae populations. This provides further evidence that predation by P. persimilis is having a deleterious effect on T. lintearius populations and therefore reducing its effectiveness as a biological control agent for gorse.     

Vertical dispersal of the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae, and the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis on dwarf hops

1 The pattern of dispersion within plants of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, and its predator, the phytoseiid Phytoseiulus persimilis, was studied on the dwarf hop variety First Gold from May to September in 1997 and 1998. 2 Spider mite populations developed on the lower leaves initially but, by late July, as the numbers of mites increased, most were found towards the top of plants. From early August, the numbers of spider mites decreased most rapidly on the upper parts of plants. 3 Where P. persimilis was released, the predator maintained the numbers of T. urticae below those found on non-release plots throughout the season. 4 By early August, the predator’s pattern of dispersion was similar to that of the pest. 5 Predators spread to non-release plots by 20 June in 1997 and 24 July in 1998 and eventually became more numerous than on the plots where they had been released.     

Optimum release times for biological control of the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) by Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseidae) on the strawberry in greenhouses

The effectiveness of the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias‐Henriot (Acari: Phytoseidae) in controlling the two‐spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) was evaluated in commercial strawberry greenhouses in two areas of Korea. Optimum release times for P. persimilis were investigated by case studies. Control effects of the two‐spotted spider mite by release of the predatory mite were shown. There was mostly good control by the release of P. persimilis when there were fewer than 0.9 T. urticae per leaf. We recommend it would be ideal to release P. persimilis twice in December and once in February for very early strawberry harvest, and three times from February to March (after overwintering) for early harvest.     

Comparative toxicity of some acaricides to the predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis and the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae

The relative toxicity of someacaricides to the predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis and the twospottedspider mite, Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Phytoseiidae, Tetranychidae) wasevaluated in laboratory. Five of theacaricides tested, including bifenazate,acequinocyl, chlorfenapyr, flufenoxuron andfenbutatin oxide, were much less toxic to adultfemales and immatures of P. persimilisthan to those of T. urticae, and adultfemale predators treated with these fiveacaricides produced 84±96% as many eggs as didcontrol females. Etoxazole did not seriouslyaffect the survival and reproduction of adultfemale predators but caused high mortalityrates in eggs and larvae of P.persimilis. Milbemectin and fenazaquin werevery toxic to adult females and immatures ofP. persimilis. Adult female predatorssurvived on a diet of spider mites treated withbifenazate, acequinocyl, chlorfenapyr,flufenoxuron and fenbutatin oxide, and theirfecundity, prey consumption and the sex ratioof the progeny were not substantially affected. Based on the results, bifenazate, acequinocyl,chlorfenapyr, flufenoxuron and fenbutatin oxideappeared to be the promising candidates for usein integrated mite management programs whereP. persimilis is the major naturalenemy.     

The Effects of Clofentezine on Life-table Parameters in Two-spotted Spider Mite Tetranychus urticae

Sublethal effects of the growth inhibitor, clofentezine, on life-table parameters of Tetranychus urticae Koch females treated at different developmental stages with a concentration causing ≥90% mortality were investigated. Females which survived treatment as ‘early’ (0–24 h old) eggs produced 12% more offspring than the untreated females during the first five days of oviposition. This resulted in a significant rise in the intrinsic rate of increase (r _j ): 0.324, compared to 0.299 in the untreated females. This effect may be interpreted as hormoligosis. Clofentezine treatment at any other developmental stage of T. urticae significantly decreased both longevity and fertility of female survivors. Females which survived treatment either as ‘late’ (72–96 h old) eggs or larvae had 2.6 times lower net reproductive rate (R ₀) than the untreated females, and the r _j values were significantly lower: 0.242 and 0.215, respectively (0.285 in the untreated females). Females which survived treatment either as protonymphs or deutonymphs had 3.9 times and 6 times lower R ₀, respectively. Corresponding r _j values were 0.178 and 0.146, respectively (0.247 in the untreated females). The clofentezine treatment at all stages influenced the age distribution of survivors. The sublethal effects of clofentezine and their impact on T. urticae management are discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Interactions in a trirophic acarine predator-prey metapopulation system: effects of Tetranychus urticae on the dispersal rates of Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acarina: Tetranychidae, Phytoseiidae)

The dispersal behaviour of the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot between bean plants was studied in a greenhouse. The aim of the study was to estimate the rate of predator emigration affected by different densities of Tetranychus urticae Koch and different numbers of between-plant connections (bridges). The results show that predators emigrate from a plant almost exclusively as a response to the local prey density whereas the loss rate (the per capita rate at which predators disappear from the system) also depends on the prey density on the surrounding plants, provided they are connected to the central plant by bridges. © Rapid Science Ltd. 1998     

Differential Effects of Plant Species on a Mite Pest (Tetranychus Urticae) and its Predator (Phytoseiulus Persimilis): Implications for Biological Control

The influence of plant species on the population dynamics of the spider mite pest, Tetranychus urticae, and its predator, Phytoseiulus persimilis, was examined as a prerequisite to effective biological control on ornamental nursery stock. Experiments have been done to investigate how the development, fecundity and movement of T. urticae, and the movement of P. persimilis were affected by plant species. A novel experimental method, which incorporates plant structure, was used to investigate the functional response of P. persimilis. Development times for T. urticae were consistent with published data and did not differ with plant species in a biologically meaningful way. Plant species was shown to have a major influence on fecundity (P < 0.001) and movement of the pest mite (P < 0.01), but no influence on the movement of the predator. The movement of both pest and predator was shown to be related to the density of the adult pest mites on the plant (P < 0.001). Plant structure affected the functional response, particularly in relation to the ability of the predator to locate prey at low densities. The impact of these findings on the effective use of biological control on ornamental nursery stock is discussed.     

Integrated pest management of two-spotted mite Tetranychus urticae on greenhouse roses using petroleum spray oil and the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis

From 1995 to 1999, four experiments were conducted on greenhouse roses to assess the effectiveness of the nC24 petroleum spray oil (PSO), D-C-Tron Plus, against two-spotted mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acarina: Tetranychidae), and to determine how the oil could be most efficiently and effectively used in combination with the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acarina: Phytoseiidae) in an integrated pest management program. The results showed that 0.5% PSO applied fortnightly to roses gave excellent protection from T. urticae infestation when the mite population was not already established. However, PSO applied after roses were infested with T. urticae above the economic threshold only stabilised populations without reducing them below that threshold. Populations of P. persimilis in the upper and lower canopies were unchanged after two sprays of PSO at 7-day intervals, and application of PSO to the upper canopy was as effective in controlling T. urticae in the presence of P. persimilis as spraying the entire plant. Combining PSO with P. persimilis gave better control of T. urticae than using P. persimilis alone. The most cost-effective use of PSO in the presence of P. persimilis is, therefore, to apply spray only to the upper canopy. This will not affect control of powdery mildew with PSO. Comparison of a control program for T. urticae based on the monitored use of synthetic miticides with that based on calendar application of PSO revealed that both gave equally effective control. The benefits of combining PSO and P. persimilis in an integrated pest management program for T. urticae on roses over a program based on synthetic fungicides are discussed.     

Interactions in a tritrophic acarine predator-prey metapopulation system V: Within-plant dynamics of Phytoseiulus persimilis and Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Phytoseiidae, Tetranychidae)

To investigate the relative contributions of bottom-up (plant condition) and top-down (predatory mites) factors on the dynamics of the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae), a series of experiments were conducted in which spider mites and predatory mites were released on bean plants. Plants inoculated with 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 adult female T. urticae were either left untreated or were inoculated with 3 or 5 adult female predators (Phytoseiulus persimilis) one week after the introduction of spider mites. Plant area, densities of T. urticae and P. persimilis, and plant injury were assessed by weekly sampling. Data were analysed by a combination of statistical methods and a tri-trophic mechanistic simulation model partly parameterised from the current experiments and partly from previous data. The results showed a clear effect of predators on the density of spider mites and on the plant injury they cause. Plant injury increased with the initial number of spider mites and decreased with the initial number of predators. Extinction of T. urticae, followed by extinction of P. persimilis, was the most likely outcome for most initial combinations of prey and predators. Eggs constituted a relatively smaller part of the prey population as plant injury increased and of the predator population as prey density decreased. We did not find statistical evidence of P. persimilis having preference for feeding on T. urticae eggs. The simulation model demonstrated that bottom-up and top-down factors interact synergistically to reduce the density of spider mites. This may have important implications for biological control of spider mites by means of predatory mites.     

Testing for Non-target Effects of Spinosad on Twospotted Spider Mites and their Predator Phytoseiulus persimilis under Greenhouse Conditions

The compatibility of the selective insecticide spinosad (Conserve SC), at rates recommended for thrips control in greenhouses, with release of the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to control spider mites, was investigated in a crop of ivy geranium Pelargonium peltatum, cultivar 'Amethyst 96.' Plants were inoculated with twospotted spider mites, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), 2 weeks before treatments were applied. There were three treatment variables, each at two levels: predators (released or not), spray application (water or Conserve SC at 2 ml/3.79 l), and timing of spray (1 day before or after predators were released). Twospotted spider mite populations then were sampled twice each week over a three-week period. The application or timing of spinosad had no effect on the ability of the predator to reduce the population of spider mites. Spider mite populations in the no-predator treatment continued to expand over the course of the experiment, while those in the predator-release treatment declined. We conclude that P. persimilis can be used in conjunction with spinosad on ivy geraniums without causing obvious detrimental effects to this predator or leading to a reduction in biological control.     

The Effect of Patch Size and Persistence of Host Plants on the Development of Acaricide Resistance in the Two-spotted Spider Mite Tetranychus Urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Spatial and temporal characteristics of host plants can influence the population biology of the herbivores feeding on them. In this study, I examined the effect of variation in host plant characteristics on the development of acaricide resistance in the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae, a widely distributed agricultural pest. This investigation examined the geographic variation in the degree of resistance to two new types of acaricide, pyridaben and fenpyroximate. From mortality tests at field-level concentrations of the acaricides, many populations collected from fruit trees and roses had a high frequency of resistant individuals for acaricides while almost all populations collected from herbaceous crops had low frequencies of resistant individuals. These results, combined with those from a previous allozyme study, indicate that patch size and persistence of host plants regulate the population structure of the mites including gene flow between populations and, by extension, the development of acaricide resistance.     

二斑叶螨对七种杀螨剂的抗药性测定及其机理研究

室内测定了相对敏感种群(S)和抗性种群(R)对常用7种杀螨剂的敏感性,并测定了羧酸酯酶、谷胱甘肽S-转移酶和乙酰胆碱酯酶3种酶的比活力。结果表明:二斑叶螨Tetranychus urticae Koch R种群已对甲氰菊酯和哒螨灵产生了抗性,抗性倍数分别为5.45和105.47。其中,甲氰菊酯对雌成螨的毒力最低(>3000mg/L),已远远超过田间推荐剂量,不宜继续使用。酶活测定结果表明:谷胱甘肽S-转移酶解毒活性的提高是二斑叶螨对甲氰菊酯产生抗性的原因之一;二斑叶螨对哒螨灵抗性的增强可能与羧酸酯酶有关。     

北细辛挥发油对二斑叶螨的毒性及其酶的影响

采用气相/质谱分析了北细辛挥发油的化学成分,并研究了北细辛挥发油对二斑叶螨的薰蒸毒性,以及对谷胱甘肽巯基转移酶(GSTs)与Na+,K+-ATP酶活性的影响。结果表明:有9种含量大于1%的化学成分占北细辛挥发油总量的86.1%,其中甲基丁香酚含量最高(22.9%),其次为黄樟醚(19.8%);北细辛挥发油在8μg/mL时对二斑叶螨的熏蒸毒性最强,其24和48 h的螨死亡率分别为72.6%和100%;以4μg/mL北细辛挥发油薰蒸,在24 h内螨Na+,K+-ATP酶活性下降、GSTs活性升高。本研究结果提示北细辛挥发油有开发为农业用杀螨剂的潜在价值。     

The Effects of Prey Patchiness, Predator Aggregation, and Mutual Interference on the Functional Response of Phytoseiulus persimilis Feeding on Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Phytoseiidae, Tetranychidae)

The spatial distributions of two-spotted spider mites Tetranychus urticae and their natural enemy, the phytoseiid predator Phytoseiulus persimilis, were studied on six full-grown cucumber plants. Both mite species were very patchily distributed and P. persimilis tended to aggregate on leaves with abundant prey. The effects of non-homogenous distributions and degree of spatial overlap between prey and predators on the per capita predation rate were studied by means of a stage-specific predation model that averages the predation rates over all the local populations inhabiting the individual leaves. The empirical predation rates were compared with predictions assuming random predator search and/or an even distribution of prey. The analysis clearly shows that the ability of the predators to search non-randomly increases their predation rate. On the other hand, the prey may gain if it adopts a more even distribution when its density is low and a more patchy distribution when density increases. Mutual interference between searching predators reduces the predation rate, but the effect is negligible. The stage-specific functional response model was compared with two simpler models without explicit stage structure. Both unstructured models yielded predictions that were quite similar to those of the stage-structured model.