The biology of the predatory miteHypoaspis miles (Acari: Laelapidae), a potential biological control agent ofBradysia paupera (Dipt.: Sciaridae)

Abstract

The following aspects of Hypoaspis miles' biology were investigated ; development rate of egg to adult at different temperatures, fecundity, longevity and rate of predation on sciarids. With an increase in temperature the time taken for development decreased from 33.7 days at 15 ~ to 9.2 days at 28 ~ The threshold temperature for H. miles to complete its life cycle was between 10 ~ and 12 ~ When fed on Acarus siro, H. miles laid 2-3 eggs a day and unfertilized eoos~,, . only developed into males. Adults of H. miles (0-I day old) survived for 24.0 + 1.4 days without food and if fed for 6 days and then starved, females lived for 65.4 + 2.6 days which was significantly longer than males (45.2 + 3.0 days). With food, 60 % of males and females survived for 142 days. All larval instars of sciarids were attacked by H.miles although the numbers consumed were dependent on the size of the larvae. Egg predation was negligible and pupae were not attacked. In productivity studies of H. miles in culture (fed on A. siro), the time taken for the mites to reach a density of 45-65,000/litre ranged from 76 to 23 days at 15 ~ and 28 ~ respectively.

Development and reproduction of Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Acari: Laelapidae) with fungus gnat larvae (Diptera: Sciaridae), potworms (Oligochaeta: Enchytraeidae) or Sancassania aff. sphaerogaster (Acari: Acaridae) as the sole food source

“…aculeifer (Canestrini) (Gillespie and Quiring 1990), this mite was subsequently commercialized by Applied Bionomics, Ltd., a large producer of biocontrol agents in British Columbia. Applied Bionomics supplies numerous distributors throughout North America, and is identified as the source of mites for laboratory cultures used in previous studies in Europe (Chambers et al 1993;Wright and Chambers 1994). These laboratory cultures were confirmed to be the source for the commercial culture of Koppert B.V., a large commercial distributor of biological control agents in Europe (S. Mulder, pers.…”

Effects of Light Intensity on Reproductive Behavior of Male Dark Winged Fungus Gnat, Bradysia paupera (Diptera: Sciaridae).

“…Brdysia paupera B. agrestis Lycoriella mali 1985Lycoriella mali , 1993Lycoriella mali 1993Lycoriella mali , 19971999 fungus gnats Cantelo, 1989;King, 1991Brewer, 1990Bartlett andKeil, 1997 1995;1995BT Osborne et al, 1985Gouge and Hague, 1994;Hellqvist, 1994;Wright and Chambers, 1994;Ydergaard et al, 1997Ydergaard et al, 1997Jess and …”

Ecology and Role of the Rove Beetle, <i>Dalotia coriaria</i>, and Insidious Flower Bug, <i>Orius insidiosus</i>, in Greenhouse Biological Control Programs

“…Biological control entails periodic releases of natural enemies or biological control agents, such as parasitoids and predators in order to regulate or maintain insect or mite pest populations below damaging levels [4] [6] [15]. There are natural enemies commercially available for use against fungus gnats and western flower thrips including the following predatory mites: Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Womersley) (formerly = "Hypoaspis miles") (Acari: Laelapidae) [16] [17], Neoseiulus (formerly = Amblyseius) cucumeris Oudemans (Acari: Phytoseiidae) [18] [19] [20], and Amblyseius swirskii AthiasHenriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) [21] [22]. In addition, two generalist predators commercially available for use in greenhouse production systems are the rove beetle, Dalotia coriaria (Kraatz) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), and the insidious flower bug, Orius insidiosus (Say) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae).…”