Immigration of Phytoseiid Mites from Surrounding Uncultivated Areas into a Newly Planted Vineyard

Abstract

This study reports (1) a faunistic survey of phytoseiid mites observed inside a vine plot and in neighbouring vegetation (other vine plots and uncultivated areas) and (2) dispersal of phytoseiid mites into the plot studied. These data aim to raise some hypotheses concerning natural colonisation of a vineyard by predatory mites. The study was carried out over 3 years (1999, 2000 and 2001) in an experimental plot planted with two cultivars (Grenache and Syrah) and with Sorbus domestica in a framework of agroforestry investigations. Phytoseiid mites were collected in both cultivated and uncultivated areas surrounding the experimental plot, and their dispersal into the plot studied using "aerial" traps. Densities remained quite low compared to previous studies. The main species encountered in the uncultivated areas and in the traps was Typhlodromus phialatus. Despite the low numbers of phytoseiid mites trapped, densities of phytoseiid mites into the vine field increased during 3 years. Typhlodromus phialatus, the species mainly found in the neighbouring uncultivated areas, was rarely found in vineyards. Another morphologically close species was predominant on vines: Typhlodromus exhilaratus. However, Kampimodromus aberrans the main phytoseiid mite species in vineyards of Southern France was not found in the present survey. Hypotheses for this colonisation process are discussed.

Effects of agroforestry on phytoseiid mite communities (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in vineyards in the South of France

“…Mite densities were diVerent between the two vine cultivars, the highest densities being observed on the most hirsute leaf cultivar, which agrees with previous results 1 C (Karban et al 1995;Tixier et al 1998Tixier et al , 2006Duso and Vettorazzo 1999). Many studies have shown the close relationships between phytoseiid mite species and their leaf substrate.…”

Cannibalism and intraguild predation in Typhlodromus exhilaratus and T. phialatus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) under laboratory conditions

“…Phytoseiids are found both in cultivated plots and in their neighbouring uncultivated areas. In a study conducted in vineyards of the South of France, two morphologically close species (only distinguishable by the shape of their spermatheca; Tixier et al 2006a) have been reported to occur in diVerent habitats of the agroecosystem ( Barbar et al 2005;Tixier et al 2006b). While Typhlodromus exhilaratus Ragusa was the prevailing species in vine plots, Typhlodromus phialatus Athias-Henriot was predominant in neighbouring uncultivated areas, especially on Viburnum tinus L. Trap catches showed that T. phialatus could migrate into the vine Weld, but it never reached densities as high as for T. exhilaratus (Tixier et al 2006b).…”

Effects of agroforestry on Phytoseiidae communities (Acari: Mesostigmata) in vineyards. A synthesis of a 10-year period of observations

“…This study also showed that natural colonization of Phytoseiidae predators from neighbouring vegetation was not so effective, though in the South of France it was (Tixier et al 2006a). In this specific case, agroforestry seems to be the solution for the increase of Phytoseiidae predators and biological control.…”

“…plant composition, structure) that affect Phytoseiidae occurrence in those crops (e.g. Altieri and Letourneau 1982;Boller et al 1988;Tixier et al 1998;Escudero and Ferragut 1999;Kreiter et al 2000Kreiter et al , 2002Zacarias and Moraes 2002;Kreiter et al 2005;Tixier et al 2006a). Plant diversity within plots is also assumed to affect diversity and Phytoseiidae density, some herbaceous and flowering plants being favourable to these predators (Flaherty 1969;Coli et al 1994;Lozzia and Rigamonti 1998;Tixier et al 1998;Kreiter et al 2000Kreiter et al , 2002Nicholls et al 2001;De Villiers and Pringle 2011;Dhiel et al 2012;Moura et al 2013).…”