Environmental management and biological aspects of the two eriophyoid fig mites Aceria ficus (Cotte) and Rhyncaphytoptus ficifoliae Keifer in Egypt

Abstract

Mites associated with abandoned fig trees in Egypt were observed during a 2-year study. This study included species diversity and seasonal fluctuations as well as some biological aspects of common eriophyoid species. Three phytophagous species consisted of the fig bud mite Aceria ficus (Cotte), the fig leaf mite Rhyncaphytoptus ficifoliae Keifer and the twospotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch, representing a basic trophic level, were fed upon by three of predacious mites (Pronematus ubiquitus (McGregor), Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot, Agistemus exsertus Gonzalez). Population abundance of the injurious mites were affected by the prevailing climatic conditions, action of predators and leaf age. A control measure of one summer pesticide (abamectin) application throughout the year seemed to be the most successful management of harmful mites. Life table parameters showed that the population of A. ficus multiplied 28.52 times in a generation time of 17.90 days, while R. ficifoliae population increasod 16.50 times in a generation time of 14.61 days. Field and laboratory studies indicated that the viviparity is a typical character in the reproduction of R. ficifoliae.

Biology of Leipothrix dipsacivagus (Acari: Eriophyidae), a candidate for biological control of invasive teasels (Dipsacus spp.)

“…Unfertilized females deposited significantly fewer eggs than fertilized females. Similar results have been reported for Rhyncaphytoptus ficifoliae Keifer, A. oleae, and T. hassani (Abou-Awad et al 2000, as well as A. guerreronis, whose fertilized females also lived longer than virgin females (Ansaloni and Perring 2004). By contrast, Skoracka and Kuczynski (2006) found no significant difference between the mean fecundity of fertilized and unfertilized females of Abacarus hystrix (Nalepa) host races on their respective host plants.…”

“…The adult stage was significantly longer in females compared to males, a difference that has been observed in other eriophyoid species, including Aceria ficus (Cotte) and R. ficifoliae (Abou-Awad et al 2000), A. hystrix (Skoracka andKuczynski 2004, 2006), and Eriophyes pyri (Pagenstecher) (Alazzazy 2010). Due to parthenogenetic reproduction, dispersal is considered to be performed primarily by adult female eriophyids (Bergh 2001;Lindquist and Oldfield 1996;Michalska et al 2010).…”

Weiße Fliege an Schnittgerbera: Biologische Bekämpfung mit Schlupfwespe oder Raubmilbe?

“…swirskii ist als polyphager Räuber bekannt. Im mediterranen Raum und im Nahen Osten gilt A. swirskii als bedeutender Regulator verschiedener phytophager Milben (Spinn-und Gallmilben) auf Oliven-und Feigenbäumen (El-Laithy 1998;Abou-Awad et al 2000;Rasmy et al 2004). Laut Hoda et al (1986) und Messelink et al (2006 ist A. swirskii aber auch ein Erfolg versprechender Kandidat für die Bekämpfung von Thripsen.…”

Initial Screening of Little Known Predatory Mites in Brazil as Potential Pest Control Agents

“…The performance of that predator was relatively good on T. heveae, and even more so on B. phoenicis and on pollen. Despite its ability to prey on T. heveae and B. phoenicis, the impact of Pronematus species as predators is probably hindered by its relative small size and resulting low preying capacity although there are several studies indicating the suitability of Pronematinae-to which Pronematus belongs-as alternative prey to phytoseiid mites (Knop and Hoy 1983;English-Loeb et al 1999;Abou-Awad et al 2000).…”