Phytoseiulus persimilis (Athias-Henriot, 1957)
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Info
Fuente: Consejería Agricultura y pesca Junta Andalucía
Introducción
Phytoseiulus persimilis es el fitoseido más conocido y empleado en el control de tetraníquidos de numerosos cultivos, fundamentalmente de invernadero. Es originario de la zona subtropical de América del Sur y está bien adaptado y ampliamente distribuido en la zona mediterránea, sin embargo, ha sido introducido en tantos países que puede decirse que su distribución actual es cosmopolita.
En España es muy frecuente, y abundante en las hierbas espontáneas, las cuales constituyen su hábitat natural. Aparece de forma espontánea en la Costa mediterránea, Andalucía y las Islas Canarias. Sin embargo, el uso de P.persimilis para controlar la araña roja en cultivos protegidos en España, ha dado resultados muy variables. Entre las causas posibles de tal éxito, se encuentra el hecho de que a pesar de ser una especie autóctona es poco abundante, además de mostrar una escasa tolerancia a temperaturas elevadas, siendo frecuentemente desplazado y sustituido por otro fitoseido autóctono, Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor).
Morfología
Los huevos son ovalados, y de doble tamaño que los de araña roja. Recién puestos son rosados y transparentes, oscureciéndose posteriormente.
Las larvas y ninfas son de color rojo pálido a claro.
El adulto de P. persimilis, es muy característico por su gran tamaño y movilidad. Presenta un cuerpo en forma de pera, de color rojo brillante y con largas patas, resultando fácilmente distinguible a simple vista.
Biología y Ecología
Los estados que constituyen el ciclo biológico de P. persimilis s son huevo, larva, 2 estadíos ninfales (protoninfa y deutoninfa), y adulto.
Los estudios a los que ha sido sometido, han demostrado que P. persimilis presenta una velocidad de desarrollo muy rápida, superior a la de su presa en condiciones normales, y su fecundidad y capacidad de consumo de presas es la más alta de las encontradas en fitoseidos.
La duración del ciclo biológico de P. persimilis depende, entre otros factores, de la temperatura. A 20ºC, los huevos eclosionan en unos 3 días, y completan su desarrollo en 10 días, mientras que su presa Tetranychus urticae necesita 17 días a la misma temperatura. A 30ºC, el tiempo de desarrollo total de P.persimilis se reduce a 5 días, y el de la araña roja a más de 7 días. Las hembras pueden poner hasta 50-60 huevos durante toda su vida.
Otro de los factores esenciales que favorece ó limita la dinámica poblacional de P.persimilis, es la humedad relativa. Este parámetro incide directamente sobre la fecundidad y la longevidad de las hembras, la posibilidad de desarrollo de los huevos y de los estados inmaduros. El estado de huevo es el más sensible a baja humedad.
Una humedad baja, por debajo del 60%, tiene un efecto negativo sobre la duración del desarrollo y la eclosión de los huevos.
Este ácaro fitoseido mantiene un control efectivo con temperaturas entre 15 y 25 ºC en intervalos de 60-90% de humedad relativa. Por encima de 30ºC, su actividad decrece.
Los huevos de P.persimilis son depositados cerca de una fuente de alimento, una colonia de tetraníquidos, de los cuales emergen las larvas que permanecen inactivas, sin capacidad de predación. Cuando evolucionan a protoninfa y posteriormente a deutoninfa, empiezan a buscar presas en la superficie de la hoja, para alimentarse. Finalmente se desarrolla el adulto, que presenta una gran actividad depredadora.
Cuando el ácaro depredador, adulto y ninfa, encuentra la presa succiona el contenido fluido de su cuerpo. Los tetraníquidos depredados adquieren color marrón o negro, pudiendo ser identificadas como pequeñas manchas en las hojas., fácilmente diferenciables de los tetraníquidos vivos, de color marrón claro a rojo oscuro.
Durante los estadíos proto y deutoninfa, P. persimilis depreda huevos y estados inmaduros. Los ácaros adultos devoran todos los estadíos de la araña roja.
P.persimilis es un depredador exclusivo del género Tetranychus, no alimentándose de otros artrópodos, ni de polen, por lo que es necesario la presencia de arañas rojas para su establecimiento en el cultivo. Si hay escasez de presas puede llegar al canibalismo.
Presenta una excelente movilidad, incluso cuando existen telas de araña en el cultivo, aunque las pilosidades de las hojas, o los tejidos rugosos disminuyen su capacidad de desplazamiento.
Si las plantas infestadas por araña roja están muy juntas, el depredador puede desplazarse fácilmente de una planta a otra, dispersándose más rápido que la araña roja. Si la densidad de presa es baja los adultos se dispersan en busca de nuevas fuentes de alimento, mientras que permanecen las ninfas en el mismo lugar. El daño producido por la araña roja y sus "telas" ayudan al depredador a encontrar a sus presas.
En los cultivos hortícolas protegidos de Almería han sido identificadas las especies de araña roja Tetranychus urticae Koch, T.turkestani Ugarov & Nicolski, T.ludeni (Zacher) y T.evansi Baker & Pritchard. Esta última se ha introducido en los cultivos españoles en los últimos años, siendo muy escasos los datos que se tienen de la importancia y el impacto que puede ocasionar en nuestros cultivos. Seguramente su actividad en los ambientes agrícolas está pasando en parte desapercibida, al ser confundida con otras especies similares (Ferragut y Escudero., 2002). En este mismo estudio se observó además, la incapacidad de P.persimilis para desarrollarse de forma adecuada cuando se alimentan de T.evansi.
Por consiguiente, dado que distintas especies del género tetranychus pueden convivir en una misma planta y/o cultivo, es recomendable llevar a cabo una primera identificación de las especies presentes y su distribución, previa a la estrategia de control a seguir para poder garantizar un control efectivo.
Productos comerciales
Comprar Phytoseiulus persimilis
Productos comerciales
Phytoseiulus persimilis está registrado en España bajo las siguientes marcas comerciales:
nombre comercial | Comercialización | Presentación | contenido unitario | |
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PHYTOCONTROL | Agrobio S.L. | Bote | 2.000 individuos |
PHYTOSEIULUS VIP | Saniveg S.L. | Bote | 25000 individuos | |
SPIDEX | Koppert Biological Systems S.L. | botella de 100 ml (adultos en serrín) | Botes de 2000 y 10.000 individuos |
Manejo
Liberación de Phytoseiulus persimilis y otros enemigos naturales en cultivos protegidos |
Plagas que controla
Araña roja (Tetranichus sp.) |
Cultivos recomendados
Hortícolas | |||
Frutales | |||
Ornamentales |
Dosis recomendadas
2-6 ácaros / m2. En los focos aumentar hasta 20 Indiv/m2 |
Publicaciones
Autor: A. ESCUDERO Y F. FERRAGUTBol. San. Veg. Plagas, 22: 115-124, 1996RESUMEN
En este trabajo se analizan algunas de las causas de la escasa eficacia de Phytoseiulus persimilis en el control de la araña roja en España. Para ello se ha estudiado en el laboratorio la influencia de [...]
Autor: M. MIÑARRO, E. DAPENA, F. FERRAGUTBol. San. Veg. Plagas, 28: 287-297, 2002RESUMEN
Se han muestreado los fítoseidos presentes en manzano en Asturias (1) a lo largo del periodo vegetativo (1999) y (2) sobre colonias otoñales de ácaros del género Tetranychus (1998 y 2000). Se han identificado un total de 492 individuos pertenecientes a 12 especies diferentes. Todas las especies, excepto Amblyseius herbicolus (Chant) y Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot, han sido [...]
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Colonización y dispersión de los ácaros en un ecosistema hortícola protegido: características y factores responsables
RESUMEN
En este trabajo se analiza la colonización de un cultivo de judía por las arañas rojas y los fitoseidos y los factores que intervienen en el proceso dispersivo de estos ácaros. La araña roja llega en una etapa temprana del cultivo, arrastrada por los vientos dominantes en la zona y se desplaza con rapidez una vez que se ha instalado en el cultivo. Los fitoseidos llegan más tarde [...]
Autor: Hilarión, Alejandra; Niño, Angie; Cantor, Fernando; Rodríguez, Daniel; Cure, José RicardoAgronomía Colombiana, vol. 26, núm. 1, 2008, pp. 68-77RESUMEN
Phytoseiulus persimilis ha sido utilizado en programas de manejo integrado de plagas como alternativa al uso de acaricidas para el manejo de Tetranychus urticae. Los danos ocasionados por T. urticae generan [...]
OTRAS PUBLICACIONES
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A novel disease affecting the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari, Phytoseiidae): 1. Symptoms in adult females
Autor: Schütte C, Kleijn PW, Dicke M.
Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, P O Box 8031, 6700, EH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Exp Appl Acarol 38:275-97. 2006
Abstract
Adult female Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari, Phytoseiidae) of one of our laboratory populations showed a lower degree of attraction to herbivore-induced plant volatiles than other laboratory populations. We hypothesized earlier that this consistent change in foraging behavior is a symptom of a disease, as it is a contagious phenomenon. Here we describe more symptoms by comparing mated females of this population (non-responding (NR) population) with mated females of other populations that are strongly attracted to herbivore-induced plant volatiles (responding populations). The most apparent characteristic of the NR population was the presence of numerous dorso-ventrally flattened females (76% of all females). These females had a normal size after mating but shrank during adulthood. Independent of their age, shrunken females did not reproduce and died a few days after shrinking. In addition to these profound differences in short term performance, females from the NR-population showed behavioral changes, including a lower degree of attraction to herbivore-induced plant volatiles, a higher tendency to leave a prey-patch and a lower predation rate. Moreover, about half of the live females of the NR-population carried birefringent dumbbell-shaped crystals in the legs whereas live females of a responding population carried crystals only in the lumen of the Malpighian tubules and the rectum. The symptom 'crystals in the legs' was correlated with low reproduction. Energy dispersive X-ray diffraction of these crystals revealed that they contain calcium and phosphorus along with carbon and oxygen. Crystals with comparable elemental compositions and the same characteristic concentric layering are well known in insects, where they are thought to play a major role in detoxification of calcium and heavy metals, and in storage of phosphorus. The fraction of predators carrying a white spot in the distal part of the opisthosoma, due to accumulation of excretory material in the rectum, was the same in both populations. Present results are discussed in the context of mite pathology and biological control.
Autor: Bjøornson S, Keddie BA.
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E9, Canada
J Invertebr Pathol 76:293-300. 2000
Abstract
Two undescribed species of microsporidia were found in mass-reared Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot from two commercial sources during a routine examination of these predators for pathogens. Both microsporidian species were described from specimens that had been prepared for transmission electron microscopy; live specimens were unavailable for examination. One microsporidium, identified as Species A, was described from two specimens obtained from a commercial insectary in North America. All observed stages of this microsporidium were uninucleate. Rounded-to-ovoid schizonts appeared to develop in direct contact with the cytoplasm of lyrate organ cells (ovarian tissue). Mature spores of Species A were elongate-ovoid and measured 2.88 x 1.21 microm. A polar filament coiled 7 to 10 times in the posterior half of the spore. Sporoblasts and spores were observed in the cytoplasm of cells of numerous tissues and in developing eggs within gravid females. A second species, identified as Species B, was described from five specimens obtained from a commercial source in Israel. All observed stages of this microsporidium were uninucleate. Schizonts of Species B were observed within the cytoplasm of cecal wall cells and within the nuclei of lyrate organ cells. Mature spores were ovoid and measured 2.65 x 1.21 microm. A polar filament coiled 3 to 4 times in the posterior half of the spore. Densely packed ribosomes often concealed the polar filament and other internal spore characteristics. Spores were observed in the cytoplasm of cells of numerous tissues and occasionally within the nuclei of lyrate organ cells. Numerous spores and presporal stages were observed within the ovary and developing eggs. The development and pathology of Species A and B were compared to those of Microsporidium phytoseiuli Bjøornson, Steiner and Keddie, a microsporidium previously described from P. persimilis obtained from a commercial source in Europe. The occurrence of three species of microsporidia within P. persimilis from three sources raises questions regarding the origin of these pathogens. Because microsporidia may have profound impact on the performance of P. persimilis, consideration must be given to the identification and exclusion of microsporidia from field-collected specimens or from predators that may be shared among commercial sources.
Author: Nicetic, Watson DM, Beattie GA, Meats A, Zheng J.
Centre for Horticulture and Plant Sciences, University of Western Sydney Hawkesbury, Penrith South DC, NSW, Australia
Exp Appl Acarol 25:37-53. 2001
Abstract
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.
Autor: Bostanian NJ, Akalach M.
Horticultural Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri Food Canada, 430 Blvd Gouin, St Jean sur Richelieu, Quebec, J3B 3E6, Canada
Pest Manag Sci 62:334-9. 2006
Abstract
A laboratory study assessed the contact toxicity of indoxacarb, abamectin, endosulfan, insecticidal soap, S-kinoprene and dimethoate to Amblyseius fallacis (Garman), Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot and nymphs of Orius insidiosus (Say). Amblyseius fallacis is a predacious phytoseiid mite and an integral part of integrated pest management (IPM) programmes in North American apple orchards. The other two beneficials are widely used in greenhouses to manage various arthropod pests infesting vegetable and ornamental crops. Indoxacarb is a slow-acting insecticide, so toxicity data were recorded 7 days post-treatment when the data had stabilised. It showed no toxicity to O. insidiosus nymphs or to A. fallacis or P. persimilis adults. The LC50 values for O. insidiosus nymphs and P. persimilis could not be estimated with their associated confidence limits, because the g values were greater than 0.5 and under such circumstances the lethal concentration would lie outside the limits. The LC50 for A. fallacis was 7.6x the label rate. The fecundity of P. persimilis was reduced by 26.7%. The eclosion of treated eggs from both species of beneficial mites was not affected adversely. Among the other pest control products, S-kinoprene and endosulfan affected adversely at least one species of the predators, whereas dimethoate, abamectin and insecticidal soap were very toxic to all three beneficials. Indoxacarb should be evaluated as a pest control product in IPM programmes.
Autor: Mumm R, Posthumus MA, Dicke M.
Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, PO Box 8031, 6700 EH Wageningen, The Netherlands
Plant Cell Environ 31:575-85. 2008
Abstract
Many plants respond to herbivory by arthropods with an induced emission of volatiles such as green leaf volatiles and terpenoids. These herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) can attract carnivores, for example, predators and parasitoids. We investigated the significance of terpenoids in attracting herbivores and carnivores in two tritrophic systems where we manipulated the terpenoid emission by treating the plants with fosmidomycin, which inhibits one of the terpenoid biosynthetic pathways and consequently terpenoid emission. In the 'lima bean' system, volatiles from spider-mite-infested fosmidomycin-treated plants were less attractive to the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis than from infested control plants. In the 'cabbage' system, fosmidomycin treatment did not alter the attractiveness of Brussels sprouts to two Pieris butterflies for oviposition. The parasitoid Cotesia glomerata did not discriminate between the volatiles of fosmidomycin-treated and water-treated caterpillar-infested cabbage. Both P. persimilis and C. glomerata preferred volatiles from infested plants to uninfested ones when both were treated with fosmidomycin. Chemical analysis showed that terpenoid emission was inhibited more strongly in infested lima bean plants than in Brussels sprouts plants after fosmidomycin treatment. This study shows an important role of terpenoids in the indirect defence of lima bean, which is discussed relative to the role of other HIPVs.
Autor: Bustos A, Cantor F, Cure JR, Rodríguez D.
Facultad de Ciencias, Univ Militar Nueva Granada, Bogota, Colombia
Neotrop Entomol 38:653-9. 2009
Abstract
A rearing technique was standardized to produce Tetranychus urticae Koch on Phaseolus vulgaris (ICA Cerinza variety) as a prey of the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot. Two assays were conducted to assess the following variables: 1. the most suitable plant age for mite infestation, 2. the best time to harvest the mites and reinfest the plants. In the first experiment, four-, five-, six-, and seven-week-old plants of P. vulgaris were infested with six T. urticae per foliole. The lower plant stratum exhibited the largest number of mites regardless of plant age. However, four-week-old plants had the larger average number of individuals. In the second experiment four-week-old plants were infested with 0.5 female mite/cm(2) of leaf. The number of individuals per instar of T. urticae was recorded weekly. The highest mite production occurred between four and five weeks after infestation, indicating this to be the most suitable for mite harvesting and for plant reinfestation.
Autor: Ochiai N, Mizuno M, Mimori N, Miyake T, Dekeyser M, Canlas LJ, Takeda M.
Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kobe University, Nada, Kobe, Japan
Exp Appl Acarol 43:181-97. 2007
Abstract
Bifenazate is a novel carbazate acaricide discovered by Uniroyal Chemical (now Chemtura Corporation) for the control of phytophagous mites infesting agricultural and ornamental crops. Its acaricidal activity and that of its principal active metabolite, diazene, were characterized. Bifenazate and diazene had high toxicity and specificity both orally and topically to all life stages of Tetranychus urticae and Panonychus citri. Acute poisoning was observed with no temperature dependency. No cross-resistance was found to mites resistant to several other classes of acaricides, such as tebufenpyrad, etoxazole, fenbutatin oxide and dicofol. Bifenazate remained effective for a long time with only about a 10% loss of efficacy on T. urticae after 1 month of application in the field. All stages of development of the predatory mites, Phytoseiulus persimilis and Neoseiulus californicus, survived treatment by both bifenazate and diazene. When adult females of the two predatory mite species were treated with either bifenazate or diazene, they showed a normal level of fecundity and predatory activity in the laboratory, effectively suppressing spider mite population growth. Even when the predators were fed spider mite eggs that had been treated previously with bifenazate, they survived. These findings indicate that bifenazate is a very useful acaricide giving high efficacy, long-lasting activity and excellent selectivity for spider mites. It is, therefore, concluded that bifenazate is an ideal compound for controlling these pest mites.
Autor: Enigl M, Zchori-Fein E, Schausberger P.
Department of Applied Plant Sciences and Plant Biotechnology Institute of Plant Protection, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Peter Jordanstrasse 82, A 1190 Vienna, Austria
Exp Appl Acarol 36:249-62. 2005
Abstract
The cytoplasmically inherited bacterium Wolbachia is widespread in arthropod species and has been repeatedly detected in the predaceous mite Phytoseiulus persimilis. Our original goal was to assess the prevalence of Wolbachia infection in P. persimilis and the potential fitness consequences for this host. To accomplish that goal, seven P. persimilis strains were obtained from Europe, Africa and the USA and reared on the phytophagous mite Tetranychus urticae as prey. After preliminary results showed that the T. urticae used was infected with Wolbachia, the minimum starvation time of the predators to prevent false positive results from undigested prey was determined. We tested DNA samples by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) after starving the predators or feeding them Wolbachia-free T. urticae for various periods. Those experiments showed that Wolbachia could not be detected after 16 h at 25 degrees C and 48 h at 20 degrees C. To verify the results of the PCR analyses, we furthermore conducted crossing experiments with antibiotic-treated and untreated individuals. No indications of Wolbachia effects were recorded. Additionally, we screened live eggs of four of the seven strains reared in our laboratory and alcohol samples of 10 other P. persimilis strains for the occurrence of Wolbachia by PCR, none of which tested positive. Synthesis of our study and previous reports suggests that infection of P. persimilis with Wolbachia is extremely rare and of minor importance. We discuss the significance of our findings for future studies on the presence of Wolbachia in predaceous arthropods.
Autor: Conny Schütte
Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, P O Box 8031, 6700 EH Wageningen, The Netherlands
J Invertebr Pathol 98:127-35. 2008
Abstract
Adult female Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari, Phytoseiidae) of a laboratory population show a set of characteristic symptoms, designated as non-responding (NR) syndrome. Mature predators shrink, cease oviposition and die. They show a lower degree of attraction to herbivore-induced plant volatiles and a greater tendency to leave prey patches carrying ample prey. Moreover, predators may carry excretory crystals in the legs, may cease prey consumption and have a low excretion rate. Here, we satisfy Koch's postulates for a strain of Acaricomes phytoseiuli (DSM 14247) that was isolated from symptomatic female P. persimilis of the NR-population. Adult female P. persimilis were either exposed to a bacterial inoculum suspension (treatment) or to sterile distilled water (control) for a period of 3 days. Control and treated predators were examined for the occurrence of six symptoms characteristic for the NR-syndrome and the presence of A. phytoseiuli after inoculation. The latter was done by re-isolation of A. phytoseiuli from individual predators and predator feces placed on nutrient agar, by PCR-based identification and by histopathological studies of individual predators. The NR-syndrome was clearly induced in those predators that had been exposed to the bacterial inoculum (incubation time=2-5 days, fraction shrunken females=80%), whereas predators exposed to water did not show the NR-syndrome. A. phytoseiuli was never isolated from control predators whereas it could be re-isolated from 60% of the treated predators (N=37) and from feces of 41% of treated predators (N=17). Only one day after exposure A. phytoseiuli could not be re-isolated from treated predators and their feces. Light and electron microscope studies of predators exposed to A. phytoseiuli revealed striking bacterial accumulations in the lumen of the alimentary tract together with extreme degeneration of its epithelium. In addition, bacterial foci also occurred in the fat body. These phenomena were not observed in control predators that were exposed to sterile water. The present data prove that A. phytoseiuli can infect the predatory mite P. persimilis and induce the NR-syndrome and characteristic histopathological changes in adult female P. persimilis. This is the first record of a bacterial pathogen in a phytoseiid mite and the first description of pathogenic effects of a bacterial species in the genus Acaricomes.
Autor: A Walzer
Department of Applied Plant Sciences and Plant Biotechnology, Institute of Plant Protection, University of Natural Resources and Applied Sciences, Peter Jordanstrasse 82, A 1190 Vienna, Austria
Bull Entomol Res 94:577-84. 2004
Abstract
In greenhouse agroecosystems, a guild of spider mite predators may consist of the oligophagous predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot, the polyphagous predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus McGregor (both Acari: Phytoseiidae) and the primarily herbivorous but facultatively predatory western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Diet-specialization and the predator body size relative to prey are crucial factors in predation on F. occidentalis by P. persimilis and N. californicus. Here, it was tested whether the relevance of these factors changes during predator ontogeny. First, the predator (protonymphs and adult females of P. persimilis and N. californicus): prey (F. occidentalis first instars) body size ratios were measured. Second, the aggressiveness of P. persimilis and N. californicus towards F. occidentalis was assessed. Third, survival, development and oviposition of P. persimilis and N. californicus with F. occidentalis prey was determined. The body size ranking was P. persimilis females > N. californicus females > P. persimilis protonymphs > N. californicus protonymphs. Neoseiulus californicus females were the most aggressive predators, followed by highly aggressive N. californicus protonymphs and moderately aggressive P. persimilis protonymphs. Phytoseiulus persimilis females did not attack thrips. Frankliniella occidentalis larvae are an alternative prey for juvenile N. californicus and P. persimilis, enabling them to reach adulthood. Females of N. californicus but not P. persimilis sustained egg production with thrips prey. Within the guild studied here, N. californicus females are the most harmful predators for F. occidentalis larvae, followed by N. californicus and P. persimilis juveniles. Phytoseiulus persimilis females are harmless to F. occidentalis.
REFERENCIAS PUBMED
Social familiarity modulates group living and foraging behaviour of juvenile predatory mites.