Evaluation of the Varietal Impact of Two Citrus Species on Fluctuations of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) and Beneficial Phytoseiid Mites

Abstract

The activity of Tetranychus urticae Koch, 1836, and its predators (Euseius stipulatus Athias-Henriot, 1960, Typhlodromus sp., and Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot, 1957) on two citrus varieties (Nules (Mandarin) and Valencia late (Orange)) was studied in citrus orchards in Machraa Belksiri at the Gharb region of Morocco in the years 2020–2021. In this trial, during the first year of monitoring, we detected that on the Valencia late variety (Citrus sinensis), the occupancy of leaves by T. urticae was important, with 3200 mobile forms (50%). The predator Typhlodromus sp. presented 1385 (22%), followed by E. stipilatus with 1186 mobile forms (18%), while P. persimilis presented the lowest number with 621 forms (10%). Conversely, on the Nules variety (Citrus Clementina), we found (52%) 2475 forms for the pest T. urticae. E. stipulatis was the most abandoning predator, with 1344 (28%), followed by Typhlodromus sp., with 944 (22%); however, the predator P. persimilis was absent. From our results, it can be concluded that synergistic control by these predators can reduce the rate of T. urticae and constitutes a sustainable alternative method in the absence of chemical control. Regarding the effect of the variety of the different mites studied, the varieties Nules and Valencia late showed no impact on the rates of E. 1tipulates and T. urticae, with relatively similar averages, while on the predator Typhlodromus sp. and P. persimilis, the varietal impact was important.

Assessing Panonychus ulmi (Acari: Tetranychidae) Infestations and Their Key Predators on Malus domestica Borkh in Varied Ecological Settings

“…Over a two-year period, we closely monitored the activity of the P. ulmi and its predators, the phytoseiid mites. The surveillance took place on specific dates: 23 25 August, 31 August of the year 2023. The selection of these specific dates is justified by the fact that they correspond to the period of maximum activity of the pest on apple trees.…”

“…Several constraints contribute to this limitation, including diminished access to cold storage, reduced water resources, susceptibility to frosts and hail, and pest outbreaks, notably by Tetranychus urticae and P. ulmi [14][15][16][17][18]. The latter is an insidious mite that poses a significant problem to apple cultivation; within the realm of arthropod pests, this mite manifests as a destructive entity, showcasing considerable morphological and ecological diversity within the class Arachnida (alongside spiders and scorpions), the subphylum Chelicerata, and the phylum Arthropoda [19][20][21][22][23][24][25]. The European red mite acquired pest status after the 1993 infestation in apple orchards in the Kashmir Valley, emerging as a significant threat to apple production [19].…”

Sustainability of Coastal Agriculture in the Face of Soil Degradation: The Influence of Water Salinization as an Example

“…For the wells near the sea, most of the wells belong to the C5-S3 class, indicating poor water quality, very strongly sodic and mineralized, according to Richards (1954) [48,49]. For these to become usable, two factors need to be controlled: low salinity and the addition of soluble Ca 2+ .…”

Acaricidal activity of Lantana Camara (Verbenaceae) and Ruta chalepensis (Rutaceae) essential oils against the date palm mite Oligonychus afrasiaticus (McGregor) (Acari: Tetranychidae)

“…Botanical acaricides composed of EOs can be a good alternative to more persistent synthetic acaricides. (Assouguem et al, 2022).…”