Mite populations on grapevines in south-eastern Australia: Implications for biological control of grapevine mites (Acarina: Tenuipalpidae, Eriophyidae)

Abstract

James, D.G. and Whitney, J.W., 1993. Mite populations on ~apevines in south-eastern Australia:Implications for biological control of grapevine mites (Acarina: Tenuipalpidae Eriophyidae) Exp. Appl. Acarol., 17: 259-270.Pest and predatory mite populations were monitored over a 2 year period on grapevines in three viticultural regions of southern Australia (The Riverlands, Sunraysia and Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area[MIA]). The mite pests Brevipalpus spp., Colomerus vitis (Pagenstecher) and Calepitrimerus vitis (Nalepa) occurred in each region with a predatory mite fauna which showed considerable interregional variation in incidence, abundance and composition. Nine species of Phytoseiidae, the dominant predatory mite family, were recorded inhabiting grapevines. In the Riverlands, mite populations were apparently suppressed by two phytoseiids (Typhtodromus doreenae Schicha, Amblyseius victoriensis (Womersley)) in vineyards on which no insecticide was u~d and on which sulphur and copper were used to control vine diseases. In Sunraysia and MIA, vineyards which generally had greater inputs of synthetic pesticides, particularly fungicides, five to eight phytoseiid species were recorded. However, they were less abundant and appeared to have less impact on mite (particularly Brevipalpus spp.) populations. The population dynamics of pest and predatory mites on grapevines in southern Australia and implications tbr mite management based on biological control are discussed with respect to pesticide (particularly fungicide) inputs and phytoseiid biology~ecology, The vineyards of inland Southern Australia have relatively few insect and mite pests and none which could be considered a key pest seriously affecting grape production. Most pests of grapevine are of minor-moderate importance and are often irregular in incidence and abundance. Amongst the minor-moderate pests of Australian grapevines are mites of the families Tenuipalpidae (false spider mites) and Eriophyidae (rust mites). One or two species of the false spider mite genus

Relationship between rust mitesCalepitrimerus vitis(Nalepa), bud mitesColomerus vitis(Pagenstecher) (Acari: Eriophyidae) and short shootsyndrome in Oregon vineyards

“…Calepitrimerus vitis is a host-specific pest of grapevines, Vitis vinifera L., (Jeppson et al, 1975;Amrine and Manson, 1996;Duso and de Lillo, 1996) occurring in many grape growing regions of the world, including the Pacific Northwest (James, 2006), Australia (James and Whitney, 1993;Carew et al, 2004;Bernard et al, 2005) and Europe (Baillod and Guignard, 1986;Kreiter and Planas, 1987;Hluchy and Pospisil, 1992;Perez-Moreno and Moraza-Zorilla, 1998;Duffner, 1999;de Lillo et al, 2004). Outbreaks of C. vitis have occurred in Europe with yield losses reported (Baillod and Guignard, 1986;Kreiter and Planas, 1987;Hluchy and Pospisil, 1992;Perez-Moreno and Moraza-Zorilla, 1998;Duffner, 1999).…”

Phytoseiids (Acari: Phytoseiidae) Dominate the Mite Fauna on Grapevines in Canberra District Vineyards

“…Thus, at least three of the four predators common on grapevines in the Riverland and Canberra districts are highly polyphagous. The generalist feeding behaviour of these key predators ensures their populations are maintained even when populations of other prey James and Whitney (1993a) show a seasonal trend of steadily increasing predator populations not correlated with pest mite populations, which remain consistently low. The lack of specialisation of these predators towards the available prey, means that prey populations never face local extinction.…”

“…T. doreenae feeds on Brevipalpus spp. (James and Whitney 1993a), pollen and mould mites (Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank)) (James 1993a) as well as eriophyid mites. Thus, at least three of the four predators common on grapevines in the Riverland and Canberra districts are highly polyphagous.…”

“…1) James and Whitney (1993a) considered that biological control of grapevine mites occurs in the Riverland when disease management is based on wettable sulphur and copper and no broad-spectrum insecticides are used. Canberra district grape growers also use wettable sulphur and copper to control disease, but tend to use more synthetic fungicides than their Riverland counterparts.…”

Ecological Impacts of Insecticides

“…By contrast, oribatid mites were apparently unaffected by the insecticides. The pyrethroid -cyhalothrin eliminated most pest and predatory mites alike in sprayed apple orchards in Canada (Li et al 1992), whereas predatory phytoseiid mites survived well in vineyards treated with sulphur and copper but not with synthetic insecticides in South Australia (James and Whitney 1993). In experimental plots, spiders were three times less abundant in apple orchards treated with insecticides than in untreated ones, whereas spiders and ants populations were reduced in 53% of the corn crops treated with lindane (0.5 ka/ha) in Africa, an effect that lasted 2-3 weeks (Wiktelius et al 1999).…”