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Comparison of thermal activity thresholds of the spider mite predators Phytoseiulus macropilis and Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

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Abstract

The lower and upper thermal activity thresholds of the predatory mite Phytoseiulus macropilis Banks (Acari: Phytoseiidae) were compared with those of its prey Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) and one of the alternative commercially available control agents for T. urticae, Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot. Adult female P. macropilis retained ambulatory function (CTmin) and movement of appendages (chill coma) at significantly lower temperatures (8.2 and 0.4 °C, respectively) than that of P. persimilis (11.1 and 3.3 °C) and T. urticae (10.6 and 10.3 °C). As the temperature was raised, P. macropilis ceased walking (CTmax) and entered heat coma (42.7 and 43.6 °C), beyond the upper locomotory limits of P. persimilis (40.0 and 41.1 °C), but before T. urticae (47.3 and 48.7 °C). Walking speeds were investigated and P. persimilis was found to have significantly faster ambulation than P. macropilis and T. urticae across a range of temperatures. The lower thermal activity threshold data indicate that P. macropilis will make an effective biological control agent in temperate climates.

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Acknowledgments

Megan Coombs was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) in a CASE studentship with Biobest Belgium. Many thanks go to Dr. Yves Arijs (Biobest) for support and supply of mites, and Dr. Lucy Alford for her statistics advice.

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  1. School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT, UK

    Megan R. Coombs & Jeffrey S. Bale

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  1. Megan R. Coombs
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Correspondence to Megan R. Coombs.

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Coombs, M.R., Bale, J.S. Comparison of thermal activity thresholds of the spider mite predators Phytoseiulus macropilis and Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Exp Appl Acarol 59, 435–445 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-012-9619-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-012-9619-9

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