The spatial and temporal distribution of predatory and phytophagous mites in field-grown strawberry in the UK

Extensive sampling of strawberry plants in everbearing and June-bearing strawberry plantations and on potted plants showed that different species of mites were spatially separated. Of the two phytophagous species recorded, Tetranychus urticae was most abundant on old leaves and Phytonemus pallidus on folded leaves and flower/fruit clusters. Predatory phytoseiid mites were found on all plant parts but different species were spatially separated; Neoseiulus cucumeris and N. aurescens were found mostly on folded leaves and clusters, and N. californicus and Phytoseiulus persimilis on old and medium aged leaves. No Typhlodromus pyri were found in the field plantations. These patterns of distribution did not change over sampling dates in summer and early autumn. An understanding of this within-plant zonation of mite species is important when studying predator–prey interactions and when designing sampling strategies for strawberry. A programme to sample the entire mite system on strawberry should be stratified to include all the above mentioned parts of the plant. Different sampling protocols, as appropriate, are required for sampling different pest species and their associated predators.     

Aerodynamic advantages of upside down take-off for aerial dispersal in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tetranychus</Emphasis> spider mites

Aerial dispersal may be important for redistribution of spider mites into new habitats. Evidence for behavioral control of aerial take-off has been well documented for Tetranychus urticae Koch. Before aerial dispersal they exhibit the aerial take-off posture that involves lifting the forelegs upright and raising the forebody. However, whether the aerial take-off posture functions to increase drag has remained unclear. The objectives of this study were to clarify: (i) aerodynamic effects of the aerial take-off posture; and (ii) actual aerial take-off behavior in T. urticae. To evaluate the aerodynamic forces experienced by grounded spider mites in different postures, we constructed three-dimensional models of T. urticae, exhibiting the aerial take-off posture and the normal posture, using computer graphics. We found that the aerial take-off posture was effective in receiving greater rearward forces from wind rather than upward forces. As a result, aerial take-off from a horizontal platform is unlikely. Instead, inverted departure surfaces, e.g., lower leaf surfaces, with inclines are likely to be effective sites for take-off. Laboratory experiments and field observations indicated that the mites preferentially adopted such a position for orientation and take-off. Our findings provided a rationale for the take-off behavior of Tetranychus spider mites.     

Life history of the predatory mite <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytoseiulus fragariae</Emphasis> on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tetranychus evansi</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tetranychus urticae</Emphasis> (Acari: Phytoseiidae,Tetranychidae) at five temperatures

Tetranychus evansi Baker and Pritchard and Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) are important pests of Solanaceae in many countries. Several studies have demonstrated that T. urticae is an acceptable prey to many predatory mites, although the suitability of this prey depends on the host plant. T. evansi, has been shown to be an unfavorable prey to most predatory mites that have been tested against it. The predator Phytoseiulus fragariae Denmark and Schicha (Acari: Phytoseiidae) has been found in association with the two species in Brazil. The objective of this work was to compare biological parameters of P. fragariae on T. evansi and on T. urticae as prey. The study was conducted under laboratory conditions at 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30°C. At all temperatures, survivorship was lower on T. evansi than on T. urticae. No predator reached adulthood at 10°C on the former species; even on the latter species, only about 36% of the predators reached adulthood at 10°C. For both prey, in general, duration of each life stage was shorter, total fecundity was lower and intrinsic rate of population increase (r _m ) was higher with increasing temperatures. The slower rate of development of P. fragariae on T. evansi resulted in a slightly higher thermal requirement (103.9 degree-days) on that prey than on T. urticae (97.1 degree-days). The values of net reproduction rate (R ₀), intrinsic rate of increase (r _m ) and finite rate of increase (λ) were significantly higher on T. urticae, indicating faster population increase of the predator on this prey species. The highest value of r _m of the predator was 0.154 and 0.337 female per female per day on T. evansi and on T. urticae, respectively. The results suggested that P. fragariae cannot be considered a good predator of T. evansi.     

Predation and oviposition by predatory Stethorus japonicus, Oligota kashmirica benefica, and Scolothrips takahashii in egg patches of various spider mite species

Predation and oviposition by three predacious insects [ Scolothrips takahashii Priesner (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), Stethorus japonicus H. Kamiya (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), and Oligota kashmirica benefica Naomi (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)] were examined using egg patches of three spider mite species [ Amphitetranychus viennensis (Zacher), Tetranychus urticae Koch, and Panonychus mori Yokoyama (all Acari: Tetranychidae)] that are pest species on Japanese pear [ Pyrus serotina Rehder (Rosaceae)]. Scolothrips takahashii females consumed more prey and laid more eggs in A. viennensis and T. urticae egg patches than in P. mori egg patches. Females also left P. mori egg patches sooner than they left other egg patches even at high prey density. Predation and oviposition of S. takahashii in a prey patch were greatly enhanced by the complicated webs produced by A. viennensis . Stethorus japonicus females consumed significantly more prey and laid more eggs in A. viennensis egg patches than in P. mori egg patches, with intermediate values in T. urticae egg patches, reflecting the quality of each spider mite species as prey. Oligota kashmirica benefica females consumed more prey and laid more eggs in A. viennensis and T. urticae egg patches than in P. mori egg patches, particularly at high prey density. However, predation and oviposition by O. kashmirica benefica increased greatly with increasing prey density, even in P. mori egg patches, indicating that prey density was the most important factor in predation and oviposition by this species. These results are discussed in relation to the potential effect of each predator on the suppression of different spider mite species on Japanese pear.     

Effects of simulated acid rain on the physiology of carmine spider mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduvals) (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Abstract:  The physiological effect of simulated acid rain sprayed on carmine spider mite Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduvals) and host plant, were measured in a series of laboratory trials. We examined potential changes in three kinds of protective enzymes [peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)] and three hydrolases [acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and carboxylesterase (CarE)] in response to changes in pH values of simulated acid rain at different time of exposure. POD, SOD and CAT activities increased significantly with the increase in the acidity of the acid rain, reaching the highest levels at pH 4.0 or 3.0, and then declined. Changes in ACP activity were similar to those observed in the protective enzymes. The increasing extent of the activities of these four enzymes after 30 and 45 days treatment became smaller than that after 15 days treatment . ALP activities decreased as pH value declined. There were no significant changes in CarE activities after 15 and 45 days, but that in pH 4.0 and 3.0 decreased after 30 days. The enhanced anti-oxidation enzyme levels (POD, SOD and CAT) and ACP activities in pH 4.0 and 3.0 reduced the effects of these toxic products on mites, resulting in the strengthening of the defensive power, and increase in survival and reproductive power of the mites, thus leading to an increase in the density of mites on host plant. From these results, we inferred that POD, SOD, CAT and ACP might be relevant to population changes of mites under acid rain pressure.     

朱砂叶螨不同抗性品系酯酶同工酶研究

在室内模拟田间药剂的选择压力,用3种不同药剂及其组合(轮用和混用)对朱砂叶螨Tetranychus cinnabarinus 进行抗药性选育.经过40余代的筛选,朱砂叶螨对甲氰菊酯、阿维菌素和哒螨·阿维混剂分别产生了68.5、8.7和6.7倍的抗性;甲氰菊酯和阿维菌素混用和轮用分别对甲氰菊酯产生了5.6倍和28.7倍抗性.朱砂叶螨各品系酯酶同工酶电泳结果和同工酶谱谱带密度扫描表明,与敏感品系相比,各抗性筛选品系的酯酶活性均有不同程度增加;阿维菌素抗性品系活性最强,酯酶带迁移距离明显远于其他抗性品系,表明该品系酯酶体系中存在变构酯酶.     

抗药性叶螨的种群参数和相对适合度

朱砂叶螨对氧化乐果、三氯杀螨醇、双甲脒和哒螨灵产生抗性后（抗药性系数分别为152．83倍、55．59倍、62．61倍和15．67倍）,繁殖力均显著降低,且发育加速。通过组建各品系生命表得知,该螨抗氧化乐果品系、抗三氯杀螨醇品质、抗双甲脒品系和抗哒螨灵品系的相对适合度分别为0．53、0．62、0．59和0．64,均小于1,具有明显的适合度缺陷。抗药性系数和相对适合度呈直线负相关。     

Macrolophus caliginosus: Functional response to whiteflies and preference and switching capacity between whiteflies and spider mites

Laboratory experiments were performed with adult female Macrolophus caliginosus Wagner (Heteroptera: Miridae) at 22ºC on bean plants to determine the functional response towards whiteflies, as well as the preference and switching capacity between the two prey species: whiteflies and spider mites. Predation of females presented with first instars of Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) was of a Type III functional response. The observed maximum predation was approximately 75 first instars at high prey densities within a 24-h period. The preference of M. caliginosus females between eggs of T. vaporariorum and Tetranychus urticaeKoch (Acarina: Tetranychidae) changed with the ratio of offered prey. The preference for T. vaporariorum eggs increased non-linearly with increasing proportions of this prey type. The average maximum predation of whitefly and spider mite eggs were approximately 166 and 111 eggs per day, respectively, at the highest ratio of the two preys. The proportion of M. caliginosus females found on the test plants at the end of the experiment increased with prey density suggesting that this mirid spends more time in areas with high prey density. Macrolophus caliginosus females are voracious predators of eggs and first instars of T. vaporariorum as well as of spider mite eggs and may thus be a valuable addition to existing methods of biological control of T. vaporariorum and T. urticae.     

The influence of host plant species on parasitism of pollen beetles (Meligethes spp.) by Phradis morionellus

We investigated the response of the specialist insect predator Oligota kashmirica benefica (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) to volatiles from lima bean leaves infested with the spider mite Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae), both in a Y-tube olfactometer and in a field in Kyoto, Japan. Adult male and female predators were significantly more attracted to T. urticae-infested leaves than to clean air. Adult male and female predators were not more attracted to uninfested leaves, artificially damaged leaves, or the spider mites and their visible products when compared to clean air. In a field trap experiment, 12 adult predators were caught in three traps containing T. urticae-infested lima bean plants over 13 days, whereas no adult predators were trapped in three traps containing uninfested lima bean plants during the same period. These results showed that O. kashmirica benefica adults responded to herbivore-induced plant volatiles from T. urticae-infested lima bean leaves under both laboratory and field conditions.     

二点叶螨对甲氰菊酯、氧乐果和四螨嗪抗药性的选育、衰退和恢复

以兰州吐鲁沟公园的二点叶螨Tetranychusurticae为敏感品系 ,分别用氧乐果、甲氰菊酯、四螨嗪喷雾处理 15次 ,其抗性水平分别为 38 5、 479 8和 6 7 3倍。将抗性品系分别与敏感品系进行杂交和回交的结果表明 :抗氧乐果品系的显性系数DRS (R♀×S♂ )为 0 470 0、DSR (S♀×R♂ )为 0 4749;抗甲氰菊酯品系的DRS (R♀×S♂ )为 0 5 15 5 ,DSR 为0 5 2 37;抗四螨嗪品系的DRS为 0 3134 ,DSR 为 0 2 46 6。表明二点叶螨对这 3种药剂的抗性均是由单个不完全显性基因所控制。在连续 10个月不接触药剂的情况下 ,3个抗性品系的抗药性都有下降 ,抗氧乐果品系的抗性下降最快 ,只有敏感品系的抗性倍数的 3 6倍 ;抗甲氰菊酯种群的抗性下降较慢 ,为敏感品系的 95 9倍。再经甲氰菊酯、氧乐果、四螨嗪分别连续15次喷雾处理后 ,3个抗性种群的抗性水平又再度回升 ,抗甲氰菊酯品系回升较快 ,抗性为敏感品系的 5 2 3 5倍 ,抗四螨嗪品系次之 ,抗氧乐果的品系抗性恢复最慢。