Predatory Potential of <i>Phytoseiulus macropilis</i> (Banks) Preying on <i>Tetranychus urticae</i> Koch (Acari: Phytoseiidae, Tetranychidae)

Abstract

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Tetranychidae), is considered one of the most important species of pest-mites because it is cosmopolite and polyphagous. This species has been described as attacking over 1,100 plant species in 140 families of economic importance. On the other hand, Phytoseiulus macropilis (Banks) (Phytoseiidae) is a predatory mite of group I, specialist as predatory mite from the Tetranychus genus. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate predatory potential of P. macropilis in its different stages-nymphs, female and male adults-preying on T. urticae also in different stages-eggs, larvae, nymphs, and adults-and to know the functional and numerical responses in lab studies. Both the experiments were carried out on arenas made of Jack-bean leaflets' discs [Canavalia ensiformis (L.)-Fabaceae] with 3 cm in diameter over agar-water at 3% inside 5 cm in diameter uncapped Petri dishes. To know the predatory activity, forty T. urticae and one predatory mite were placed in each arena with the respective phases of the developmental life cycle to be evaluated. To know the potential of predation, the no killed mites were counted after 24 hours. To know the functional and numerical responses, immature T. urticae in densities of 1 to 300/arena were offered for P. macropilis. The results for the predatory potential showed that larvae and male adult of T. urticae were the most killed stages, and the female predatory mites were the one that consumed most prey. The functional response showed a positive and significant correlation, suggesting a type II functional response (convex), a cyrtoid curve rising at a decreasing rate to a plateau, where the consumption remains constant regardless How to cite this paper: Souza-Pimentel, G.C., Reis, P.R., Liska, G.R. and Cirillo, M.Â. (2018) Predatory Potential of Phytoseiulus macropilis (Banks) Preying on Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Phytoseiidae, Tetranychidae). Advances in Entomology,6,[134][135][136][137][138][139][140][141][142][143][144][145][146][147]

Numerical responses of the predatory mites,Cheyletus eruditus(Trombidiformes: Cheyletidae) andCheyletus malaccensis, toLiposcelis decolor(Psocodea: Liposcelididae)

“…The inverse relationship between oviposition and prey density for C. eruditus could have occurred due to the interference–stimulation phenomenon (Sandness and McMurtry 1970)—in-terference increases with increasing prey density and this decreases the total acquired nutrition (energy) from prey by a predator. Consequently, this decreases the oviposition rate of a predator at higher prey densities (Souza-Pimentel et al 2018). However, the increase in oviposition rate in response to increasing prey density found in C. malaccensis is an important foraging characteristic of an efficient biocontrol agent.…”

Detrimental Impact of λ-Cyhalothrin on the Biocontrol Efficacy of Eocanthecona furcellata by Affecting Global Transcriptome and Predatory Behavior

“…Prey replacement was done during the course of the experiment to maintain prey density . Analysis of the predatory functional responses was carried out in two steps using the following equations , where N a is the number of preys consumed; N 0 is the initial number of prey; and P 0 , P 1 , P 2 , and P 3 are the constant, linear, quadratic, and cubic coefficients, respectively.…”

Untitled

“…The spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), is a polyphagous species of great global economic importance, being reported in more than 1,100 plant species in 140 families of economic importance, such as beans, cotton, apple, strawberry, papaya, cucumber, tomato, fruit trees, ornamental plants, among others [1] . This mite has a habit of feeding on the leaf's abaxial surface, forming colonies that, when infesting the leaves, these initially turn yellow on the face opposite the colony.…”