Reproduction,longevity and life table parameters of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tyrophagus neiswanderi</Emphasis> (Acari: Acaridae) at constant temperatures

The astigmatid mite Tyrophagus neiswanderi Johnston and Bruce is mainly considered a pest of ornamental and horticultural crops. However, this mite has been found infesting Cabrales cheese in Spain, though its population density is low compared to Acarus farris, the prevalent species of astigmatid mite encountered in Cabrales cheese maturing caves. One of the factors that might be influencing this differential abundance is temperature. In the present study the effect of temperature on reproductive parameters and longevity of T. neiswanderi was examined at six constant temperatures, ranging from 10 to 31°C, and a relative humidity of 90 ± 5%. Preoviposition period, fecundity and daily fecundity were adversely affected by extreme temperatures while the oviposition period increased as temperature was reduced. Male and female longevity increased as temperature decreased, but males showed significantly greater longevity than females. Additionally, this difference was greater as temperature decreased. The effect of temperature on the intrinsic rate of natural increase of T. neiswanderi populations was described by the non-linear Lactin model. The optimum temperature for development was predicted at 26.6°C. At this temperature, the population doubling time is 2.8 days. The lower and upper thresholds for T. neiswanderi populations were calculated at 7.4 and 31.7°C, respectively. According to these results, the influence of temperature on the low population density of this mite found in Cabrales maturing caves compared with A. farris is discussed.     

Number of adult female mites Varroa jacobsoni Oud. on hive debris from honey bee colonies artificially infested to monitor mite population increase (Mesostigmata: Varroidae)

Six honey bee colonies hived in Langstroth nuclei were each artificially infested with 100 phoretic Varroa mites. Hive debris on bottom inserts was inspected every 3–4 days. The adult Varroa mites were compared with mounted specimens and catalogued into lightly pigmented and darkly pigmented females. After 4 months, an acaricide treatment was used to estimate the final mite population. Based on light and dark adult counts, we propose a balancing equation that follows the Varroa population increase at 7 day intervals and allows the calculation of experimental population growth rates. The calculated Varroa finite rate of increase is =1.021. Exponential and logistic growth models fitted to the balancing equation data gave R ²=0.986 and R ²=0.991, respectively. To develop a more precise model it would be necessary to follow the population growth beyond our experimental data.     

Demography of the twospotted spider mite,Tetranychus urticae Koch

Summary A simple life table model was constructed for Tetranychus urticae in which daily survivorship of eggs and motil stages, fecundity, and development time was altered to assess the impact of each parameter on the intrinsic rate of increase. r. Interpretation of the trade-offs focused on management considerations.A second aspect of the study concerned age and stage structure in mite populations including the time path of convergence to a stable age distribution and the effect of changes in birth and death rates on the age profile. The stable stage distributions of 7 tetranychid mite species were computed using 25 separate life tables. In spite of the wide range of r-values induced by different experimental conditions, all of the stage distributions were quite similar averaging roughly 66% eggs, 26% immatures, and 8% adults. Several population studies were cited which reported stage distributions of growing mite populations. The empirical evidence suggested that natural mite populations are often quite near this stable distribution.A practical problem involving the extent to which hormoligosis (insecticide stimulation) affects mite population growth rate was addressed using the life table model and laboratory data from controlled studies. The findings suggested that mite populations treated with insecticide may attain a 1.4- to a 4.2-fold difference in population size relative to an untreated population after 2 generations and over a 1,300-fold potential difference after 10 generations.     

Experimental study on possible transmission of the bacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae</Emphasis> to chickens by the poultry red mite, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dermanyssus gallinae</Emphasis>

The vector potential of the poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae De Geer (Acari: Dermanyssidae), in relation to chicken erysipelas was investigated under experimental conditions. Chickens were inoculated intramuscularly with the bacterium Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, and mites were allowed to feed on the inoculated chickens for 5 days. After 20 days of starvation, the mites were allowed to feed on healthy chickens to enable transmission of bacteria. Blood samples were collected from the birds and analysed for the presence of E. rhusiopathiae, and ELISA tests were performed for seropositivity. The internal presence of E. rhusiopathiae in the mites after feeding of inoculated birds was also investigated. It could not be demonstrated that mites take up and transmit E. rhusiopathiae under the experimental conditions described. However, since there are case reports as well as other in vitro studies indicating the potential of D. gallinae to act as a reservoir and potential vector for infections agents, we cannot exclude the possibility that the red poultry mite transmits E. rhusiopathiae between chickens under field conditions.     

Number of reproductive cycles of Varroa jacobsoni in honey-bee (Apis mellifera) colonies

Very little data exists concerning the number of reproductive cycles performed by individual Varroa mites. To understand the population dynamics of the Varroa mite it is necessary to know the number of fertile female offspring each Varroa female produces during her lifetime. The lifetime reproduction capacity of the mite consists of the mean number of fertile female offspring produced during each reproductive cycle multiplied by the mean number of cell passages. This paper describes an experimental design to estimate the number of reproductive cycles where mites are transferred to new mite-free colonies for reproduction in sealed brood cells. The data presented suggests that the mean number of reproductive cycles performed by the individual female mite is larger than previously accepted. Under optimal conditions, the mean number of reproductive cycles by Varroa females is probably greater than 1.5 but less than 2. Furthermore, the results show that the reproductive success of Varroa females going into cells to reproduce is not influenced by previous brood cycles.     

Laboratory Studies on the use of Two New Arenas to Evaluate the Impact of the Predatory Mites Blattisocius tarsalis and Cheyletus eruditus on Residual Populations of the Stored Product Mite Acarus siro

Residual populations of storage mites sheltering in crevices and cracks escape conventional control treatments and are implicated in the infestation of newly harvested grain. In a series of 24 h laboratory tests, the performance of solitary adults of two predatory mite species, Cheyletus eruditus (Schrank) and Blattisocius tarsalis (Berlese), were assessed for controlling small numbers of the flour mite Acarus siro (L.). Tests were carried out in the presence or absence of prey refuges or grain debris to afford shelter to the flour mites. While C. eruditus had a significant effect on the motile stages of A. siro, in contrast B. tarsalis had a significant effect on the eggs. The maximum percentage of motile stages of A. siro eaten by C. eruditus was 82%, whereas the minimum percentage of A. siro eggs eaten by B. tarsalis was 99%. While the performance of C. eruditus in predating on motile stages of the flour mite was hindered by the presence of the prey refuge (38% eaten) and grain debris (25% eaten), the performance of B. tarsalis in predating on flour mite eggs was unaffected (100% eaten in presence of prey refuge or grain debris). In prolonged exposures (36 days) the performance of 2, 4 or 8 adult predators, either a single species or a combination of both, was assessed for their ability to control a population of the flour mite developing up to F₂ from an initial inoculum of 80 females and 20 males, allowed to oviposit for 72 h in the absence of predatory mites. The maximum reduction in prey population of 80% was achieved with eight B. tarsalis. Combining the two predatory species did not enhance the reduction of A. siro population.     

Impact of natural epizootics of the fungal pathogen Neozygites floridana (Zygomycetes: Entomophthorales) on population dynamics of Tetranychus evansi (Acari: Tetranychidae) in tomato and nightshade

The tomato red spider mite, Tetranychus evansi (Acari: Tetranychidae) was recently introduced in Africa and Europe, where there is an increasing interest in using natural enemies to control this pest on solanaceous crops. Two promising candidates for the control of T. evansi were identified in South America, the fungal pathogen, Neozygites floridana and the predatory mite Phytoseiulus longipes. In this study, population dynamics of T. evansi and its natural enemies together with the influence of environmental conditions on these organisms were evaluated during four crop cycles in the field and in a protected environment on nightshade and tomato plants with and without application of chemical pesticides. N. floridana was the only natural enemy found associated with T. evansi in the four crop cycles under protected environment but only in the last crop cycle in the field. In the treatments where the fungus appeared, reduction of mite populations was drastic. N. floridana appeared in tomato plants even when the population density of T. evansi was relatively low (less than 10 mites/3.14 cm² of leaf area) and even at this low population density, the fungus maintained infection rates greater than 50%. The application of pesticides directly affected the fungus by delaying epizootic initiation and contributing to lower infection rates than unsprayed treatments. Rainfalls did not have an apparent impact on mite populations. These results indicate that the pathogenic fungus, N. floridana can play a significant role in the population dynamics of T. evansi, especially under protected environment, and has the potential to control this pest in classical biological control programs.     

Candidate natural enemies for control of Rhizoglyphus robini Claparède (Acari: Astigmata) in lily bulbs: exploration in the field and pre-selection in the laboratory

To find suitable candidates for biological control of the bulb mite, Rhizoglyphus robini Claparède (Acari: Astigmata) on lilies, exploration was undertaken in areas where the bulb mite is an established pest (The Netherlands, Taiwan and Japan). Among the predators, found in association with R. robini in the field and under storage conditions, mesostigmatic mites predominate. The most abundant species were Hypoaspis aculeifer (Canestrini), Lasioseius bispinosus Evans and Parasitus fimetorum (Berlese). These predators appeared to feed and reproduce on a diet of exclusively R. robini and they were able to control the bulb mite in small-scale population experiments initiated with a 1:20 predator-prey ratio. Under laboratory conditions corresponding to lily bulb propagation (lily scales mixed with vermiculite and stored at 23°C and >90% RH) the laelapid mite, H. aculeifer, was the most effective predator; the ascid predator, L. bispinosus, was much less effective, but being relatively small and being successful in attacking the juvenile stages of the bulb mite it may be better able to search for bulb mites hidden inside the lily bulb. The parasitid predator, P. fimetorum, failed to control the bulb mite when vermiculite was used as a medium, but turned out to suppress this prey when peat was used instead. Various strains of H. aculeifer or closely related species were compared with respect to their impact and performance on bulb mites as prey: two Dutch strains, one obtained from Breezand and the other from 'tZand, a Taiwanese strain, a German strain that in contrast to the previously mentioned strains was not collected from lily bulbs, but from agricultural areas near Bremen and, in addition, a Canadian strain of a related species (Hypoaspis miles Berlese), known to control sciarid fly larvae. These comparative experiments showed that H. miles died out without noticeable impact on the bulb mite population whereas all strains of H. aculeifer were able to suppress the bulb mites to very low numbers. However, the numerical responses of the H. aculeifer strains differed in that those collected in association with the pest (Breezand > Taiwan > 'tZand) were superior to the strain from Bremen. These results do not provide support to the Hokkanen and Pimentel hypothesis, which states that predators forming an evolutionary new association with the pest are often more effective in biological control.     

Influence of diet on life table parameters of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Iphiseius degenerans</Emphasis> (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Studies on the reproduction, longevity and life table parameters of Iphiseius degenerans (Berlese) were carried out under laboratory conditions of 25 ± 1 °C, 75 ± 5% RH and 16L:8D h. As food sources for the predatory mite, Ricinus communis L. pollen, all stages of the spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) larvae, and Ephestia kuehniella Zeller eggs were selected. All diets were accepted as food by the adult mites. Female longevity ranged from 29.5 to 42.4 days, the highest value was recorded on a diet of Ephestia eggs. The highest percentage of females escaping the experimental arena was observed on the diet consisting of thrips larvae. The highest oviposition rate (1.9 eggs/female.day) was recorded when the predator was fed on spider mites on an artificial substrate. For other diets, oviposition rates ranged from 1.0 to 1.3 eggs/female.day. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r _m) of I. degenerans varied between 0.015 and 0.142 females/female.day. The diet consisting of castor bean pollen resulted in the highest population growth whereas the diet on spider mites brushed off onto a bean leaf arena resulted in the slowest population growth. This can be explained by the inability of the predator to cope with the webbing of T. urticae, and the high escape rate of the progeny when reared on spider mites. The percentage of females in the offspring ranged from 40 to 73%.This revised version was published online in May 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

Seasonal occurrence of specialist and generalist insect predators of spider mites and their response to volatiles from spider-mite-infested plants in Japanese pear orchards

In two adjacent Japanese pear orchards (orchards 1 and 2), we studied the seasonal occurrence of the Kanzawa spider mite, Tetranychus kanzawai, and its predators. Also the response of these predators to the volatiles from kidney bean plants infested with T. kanzawai was investigated using trap boxes in orchard 1. The mite density in orchard 1 was unimodal, with one peak at the end of August. In this orchard, population development of the specialist insect predators, Scolothrips takahashii, Oligota kashmirica benefica and Stethorus japonicus, was almost synchronized with that of the spider mites. These predators disappeared when the density of their prey became very low in mid-September. Both S. takahashii and O. kashmirica benefica abruptly increased in number in orchard 2 when the spider mite population in orchard 1 decreased. These results suggested that some of the predators migrated from orchard 1 to orchard 2. In this period, predator-traps with T. kanzawai-infested bean plants attracted significantly more S. takahashii than traps with uninfested plants. Very few individuals of S. japonicus and O. kashimirica benefica were found in the traps, despite their abundance in orchard 1. The generalist insect predator, Orius sp., was attracted to the traps throughout the experimental period irrespective of the density of spider mites, although this predator was never observed inside the orchards.     

Preventing introduction and spread of Dermanyssus gallinae in poultry facilities using the HACCP method

Preventing the establishment of ectoparasitic poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) populations is key in ensuring welfare and egg production of laying hens and absence of allergic reactions of workers in poultry facilities. Using the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point method, a panel of experts identified hazards and associated risks concerning the introduction and spread of this mite in poultry facilities. Together we provide an overview of possible corrective actions that can be taken to prevent population establishment. Additionally, a checklist of the most critical control points has been devised as management tool for poultry farmers. This list was evaluated by Dutch and British poultry farmers. They found the checklist feasible and useful.     

Does the Number of Diapausing Eggs Laid on Bark Affect the Population Dynamics of the Spider Mite Panonychus mori?

We studied the relationship between number of diapausing eggs produced by the spider mite Panonychus mori and the subsequent population trend for a period of 3 years. Panonychus mori showed a single population density peak on its host plant moonseed, Cocculus trilobus. The position and height of this peak were correlated with the density of diapausing eggs around the moonseed leaf buds produced the winter before. In 1994 the density of diapausing eggs measured in February was 4.3/bud, which was 6–14 times higher than the density of diapausing eggs for the same period in 1995 (0.3/bud) and 1996 (0.7/bud). The subsequent population density peak in 1994 occurred in mid June and was about 2.5 times higher than the peaks in 1995 and 1996, which both occurred early September. Thus, the present study showed a positive correlation between the density of diapausing eggs on the host plant and the start and the extend of the population increase the next growing season. Predators associated with the spider mite population were phytoseiid mites, especially Amblyseius eharai was well synchronized with the spider mite density in 1994. Field observations revealed that P. mori produced diapausing eggs in response to short photoperiod in early October each year, which corresponded with the timing predicted by the critical photoperiod around 13 h at 18°C, as assessed in laboratory trials. Diapause ended by early April when egg hatchability attained about 50% and eggs took 9 days to hatch at 25°C and a 16L:8D photoperiod. Hatching in early April was twice faster than in late February.     

Adaptation in the Asexual False Spider Mite <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brevipalpus phoenicis</Emphasis>: Evidence for Frozen Niche Variation

Because asexual species lack recombination, they have little opportunity to produce genetically variable offspring and cannot adapt to changes in their environment. However, a number of asexual species are very successful and appear to contradict this general view. One such species is the phytophagous mite Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes), a species that is found in a wide range of environments. There are two general explanations for this pattern, the General Purpose Genotype (GPG) and Frozen Niche Variation (FNV). According to the GPG model, an asexual species consists of clones that can all survive and reproduce in all the different niches. Alternatively, the FNV model postulates that different clones are specialized to different niches. We have performed a test to distinguish between these models in B. phoenicis. Mites from three populations from three different host plant species (citrus, hibiscus and acerola) were transplanted to their own and the two alternative host plants and mite survival and egg production were measured. Additionally, the mite populations were genotyped using microsatellites. Fitness was seriously reduced when mites were transplanted to the alternative host plant species, except when the alternative host was acerola. We concluded that B. phoenicis clones are specialized to different niches and thus the FNV best describes the broad ecological niche of this species but that there is also some evidence for host plant generalization. This conclusion was strengthened by the observations that on each host plant species the native mite population performed better than the introduced ones, and that three microsatellite markers showed that the mite populations are genetically distinct.     

Dynamics of springtail and mite populations: the role of density dependence, predation, and weather

Abstract 1. Ecological theory suggests that density‐dependent regulation of organism abundance will vary from exogenous to endogenous factors depending on trophic structure. Changes in abundance of soil arthropods were investigated at three trophic levels, springtails (Collembola), predaceous mites (Acari), and macro‐arthropods (spider, adult and larval beetles, centipedes). Predictions were that springtails are predator regulated and mites are food limited according to the Hairston et al. (1960) model, which predicts alternating regulation by competition and predation from fungi to springtails to mites to macro‐arthropods. The alternate hypothesis was based on the bottom‐up model of trophic dynamics, which predicts that each trophic level is regulated by competition for resources. 2. The relative contributions to springtail and mite population dynamics of endogenous (i.e. density‐dependent population growth related to food availability) and exogenous (i.e. predation and weather) factors were tested using time‐series analysis and experimental manipulation of water conditions. Box patterns were distributed within an aspen forest habitat located in the Canadian prairies and surveyed weekly from May to September 1997–1999. Each box depressed the leaf litter, creating a microhabitat island for soil arthropods that provided counts of invertebrates located immediately beneath the boxes. 3. Strong evidence was found for endogenous control of springtail and mite numbers, indicated by a reduction in population growth related to density in the previous week. Contrary to predictions, no evidence was found for regulation of springtail numbers by mites, or for regulation of mite numbers by macro‐arthropods. Springtail population growth rate was related positively to current springtail density (8 and 23% variation explained) and related negatively to 1‐week lagged density (85 and 58%), and related negatively to temperature (5 and 5%) for time‐series data and for experimental addition of water respectively. Mite population growth rate was related positively to current mite density (54%) and temperature (4%), and negatively to 1‐week lagged mite density (20%) and precipitation (6%) for time‐series analysis. For experimental addition of water, mite growth rate was related positively to current mite density (44%) and temperature (5%), and negatively to 1‐week lagged density (11%). Results differed from the Hairston et al. (1960) model predictions but were consistent with a bottom‐up view that springtail and mite populations were regulated intrinsically by competition for food and secondarily by temperature as a function of reproduction.     

Evaluation of the predatory mite <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytoseiulus macropilis</Emphasis> (Acari: Phytoseiidae) as a biological control agent of the two-spotted spider mite on strawberry plants under greenhouse conditions

The predatory mite Phytoseiulus macropilis is a potential biological control agent of the two-spotted spider mite (TSSM) Tetranychus urticae on strawberry plants. Its ability to control TSSM was recently assessed under laboratory conditions, but its ability to locate and control TSSM under greenhouse conditions has not been tested so far. We evaluated whether P. macropilis is able to control TSSM on strawberry plants and to locate strawberry plants infested with TSSM under greenhouse conditions. Additionally, we tested, in an olfactometer, whether odours play a role in prey-finding by P. macropilis. The predatory mite P. macropilis required about 20 days to achive reduction of the TSSM population on strawberry plants initially infested with 100 TSSM females per plant. TSSM-infested plants attract an average of 27.5 ± 1.0% of the predators recaptured per plant and uninfested plants attracted only 5.8 ± 1.0% per plant. The predatory mites were able to suppress TSSM populations on a single strawberry plant and were able to use odours from TSSM-infested strawberry plants to locate prey in both olfactometer and arena experiments. Hence, it is concluded that P. macropilis can locate and reduce TSSM population on strawberry plants under greenhouse conditions.     

Laboratory tests for controlling poultry red mites (Dermanyssus gallinae) with predatory mites in small ‘laying hen’ cages

To assess their potential to control poultry red mites (Dermanyssus gallinae), we tested selected predaceous mites (Androlaelaps casalis and Stratiolaelaps scimitus) that occur naturally in wild bird nests or sometimes spontaneously invade poultry houses. This was done under laboratory conditions in cages, each with 2–3 laying hens, initially 300 poultry red mites and later the release of 1,000 predators. These small-scale tests were designed to prevent mite escape from the cages and they were carried out in three replicates at each of three temperature regimes: 26, 30 (constant day and night) and 33–25?°C (day-night cycle). After 6?weeks total population sizes of poultry red mites and predatory mites were assessed. For the temperature regimes of 26 and 33/25?°C S. scimitus reduced the poultry red mite population relative to the control experiments by a factor 3 and 30, respectively, and A. casalis by a factor of 18 and 55, respectively. At 30?°C the predators had less effect on red mites, with a reduction of 1.3-fold for S. scimitus and 5.6-fold for A. casalis. This possibly reflected hen manure condition or an effect of other invertebrates in the hen feed. Poultry red mite control was not negatively affected by temperatures as high as 33?°C and was always better in trials with A. casalis than in those with S. scimitus. In none of the experiments predators managed to eradicate the population of poultry red mites. This may be due to a prey refuge effect since most predatory mites were found in and around the manure tray at the bottom of the cage, whereas most poultry red mites were found higher up in the cage (i.e. on the walls, the cover, the perch, the nest box and the food box). The efficacy of applying predatory mites in the poultry industry may be promoted by reducing this refuge effect, boosting predatory mite populations using alternative prey and prolonged predator release devices. Biocontrol success, however, will strongly depend on how the poultry is housed in practice (free range, cage or aviary systems) and on which chemicals are applied to disinfect poultry houses and to control other pests.     

Comparative effectiveness of an integrated pest management system and other control tactics for managing the spider mite Tetranychus ludeni (Acari: Tetranychidae) on eggplant

The effect of an integrated pest management (IPM) package, host plantresistance, Chrysoperla carnea predation and neem oil wereevaluated against the spider mite Tetranychus ludeni oneggplant(Solanum melongena L.) fields in 1996 and 1997, byestimating the mite population density and yield levels. Compared with the IPMpackage (Panruti local, C. carnea plus neem oil), thestandard (susceptible) eggplant variety (MDU₁) grown by farmers andtreated with an acaricide (dicofol) had significantly higher mite densities.Thepredator C. carnea was recorded in significantly lowernumbers in plots with the standard variety compared to a resistant variety(panruti local) with the full IPM package. Eggplant yield level and crop valuewere highest in the IPM-treated plots followed by Panruti local plusC. carnea. The standard variety treated with an acaricidehad the lowest yield and value. These results indicated the usefulness of hostplant resistance complemented by biorational control agents, such asC. carnea and neem oil, that these are suitable componentsin an IPM programme for managing the spider mite in endemic areas.     

Population dynamics of Panonychus osmanthi (Acari: Tetranychidae) on two Osmanthus species

Panonychus osmanthi is a non-diapausing species of spider mite that superficially resembles P. citri. It infests Osmanthus species, which are evergreen roadside and garden trees. The population dynamics of P. osmanthi were studied on Osmanthus aurantiacus and O.×fortunei during a three-year period. Seasonal changes in P. osmanthi populations were fundamentally the same in each year, although their density differed greatly from year to year. TheP. osmanthi population was bimodal, with one peak in spring (May–June) and another in winter (November–January). Populations abruptly declined after the spring peak. Predators showed a delayed density-dependent response to changes in spider mites from spring to summer, whereas in autumn and winter, predators were few because they had entered diapause. To determine the effect of predators on the rapid decline of spider mites just after the spring peak, the predators were removed by treating the trees with a synthetic pyrethroid. As a result, spider mite density did not decline after the spring peak and remained at a high level during the June-August period when spider mite density is usually very low. This suggests that predators play an important role in the drastic decline of P. osmanthi density just after the spring peak. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Inheritance of resistance to the two-spotted spider mite from L. pimpinellifolium (Jusl.) Mill. accession ‘TO-937’

The two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) is an important pest of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) crops in temperate regions as this spider mite has a very large capacity for population increase and causes severe tomato yield losses. There is no described tomato cultivar fully resistant to this pest, although resistant accessions have been reported within the green-fruited tomato wild species L. pennellii (Corr.) D’Arcy and L. hirsutum Humb. & Bonpl. We observed a L. pimpinellifolium (Jusl.) Mill. accession, ‘TO-937’, which seemed to be completely resistant to mite attacks and we crossed it with the susceptible L. esculentum cultivar. ‘Moneymaker’ to obtain a family of generations consisting of the two parents, the F₁, the F₂, the BC₁ to L. esculentum, and the BC₁ to L. pimpinellifolium. This family was evaluated for mite resistance in a polyethylene greenhouse using an experimental design in 60 small complete blocks distributed along 12 double rows. Each block consisted of five F₂ plants in one row and one plant of each of the two parents, the F₁, the BC₁ to L. esculentum, and the BC₁ to L. pimpinellifolium in the adjacent row. Plants at the 10–15 leaf stage were artificially infested by putting on them two pieces of French bean leaf heavily infested with T. urticae. After two months, evaluations of infestation were made by visual observation of mite nets and leaf damage. Plants that were free of signs of mite reproduction on the top half were considered as resistant, plants with silky nets only on their basal leaves, intermediate, and plants with mite reproduction on both basal and top canopies were scored as susceptible. Dominance for resistance appeared because all the ‘To-937’, BC₁ to L. pimpinellifolium, and F₁ plants were resistant. Not all ‘Moneymaker’ plants behaved as susceptible because 35% of plants were intermediate. In the BC₁ to L. pimpinellifolium and the F₂, most plants were scored as resistant, only 7 % BC₁ and 3 % F₂ plants were intermediate, and a single F₂ plant (0.3 %) was susceptible. With these figures, resistance seemed to be controlled by either four or two genes according to whether segregation in the BC₁ or in the F₂, respectively, were considered. These results could in part be explained because of appearance of negative interplot interference due to the high frequency of resistant genotypes within most of the generations. Therefore, the family was evaluated again but using a different experimental design. In the new experiment, 16 ‘TO-937’, 17 ‘Moneymaker’, 17 F₁, 37 BC₁ to L. pimpinellifolium, 38 BC₁ to L. esculentum, and 125 F₂ plants were included. Each of these test plants was grown besides a susceptible ‘Moneymaker’ auxilliary plant that served to keep mite population high and homogeneous in the greenhouse. Negative interplot interference was avoided with this design and all the ‘TO-937’, F₁, and BC₁ to L. pimpinellifolium plants were resistant, all ‘Moneymaker’ test plants were susceptible, and 52 % BC₁ to L. esculentum and 25 % F₂ plants were susceptible, which fitted very well with the expected for resistance governed by a single dominant gene. The simple inheritance mode found will favour sucessful introgression of mite resistance into commercial tomatoes from the very close relative L. pimpinellifolium.     

Effect of Eucalyptus and Mentha leaves and Curcuma rhizomes on Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acarina: Acaridae) in wheat

Varying concentrations of powdered leaves of Eucalyptus and Mentha and rhizomes of Curcuma were evaluated in controlling Tyrophagus putrescentiae in wheat flour. At higher concentrations, all these plant materials significantly decreased the population build-up of the mite. Eucalyptus and Mentha leaf powders were effective at concentrations ranging from 100 to 5% in bringing about a decrease in the fecundity of the mite and reducing the egg numbers to 51.66 and 25.49 per female, respectively, as compared to 98.16 eggs per female in the controls. Rhizomes of Curcuma were effective even at a concentration of 0.1% reducing the egg laying to 7.66 eggs per female in wheat flour. These materials were more deleterious to immature stages (ova and larvae) than to the mature stages of T. putrescentiae. When tested on whole grains of wheat these plant materials showed more pronounced effects in controlling the mite population compared to that in wheat flour. Curcuma rhizomes were the most promising for possible use against T. putrescentiae.