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Overwintering of the Argentine strain of Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

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Abstract

Overwintering and diapause are variable among mite species and strains. The aims of this study were to determine whether certain crops constitute overwintering sites for the Argentine strain of the predator Neoseiulus californicus and whether females underwent reproductive diapause in winter. Neoseiulus californicus was recorded monthly on the vegetables tomato, sweet pepper, eggplant, and artichoke, and on strawberry, among other crops in Buenos Aires province, Argentina. This mite was found at a lower percentage of crops in the winter than in the other seasons. Since the predator was quite frequent on artichoke, this crop could constitute a refuge during adverse environmental conditions. The mite’s frequency on several crops in other seasons and potential association with a strawberry pest is discussed. In the laboratory, individuals exposed to winter conditions throughout the life cycle exhibited a long pre-oviposition period and low oviposition rate, but did not diapause. After being kept under winter conditions from larva to adult, when individuals were transferred to the optimal spring temperatures and lighting, the pre-oviposition period was shorter and the fecundity higher than under winter conditions. When individuals remained under spring conditions from larva to adult and were then transferred to the winter parameters during the first 15 days of adulthood, the pre-oviposition period was long and the oviposition rate low. Once the optimal conditions were restored, the daily fecundity became similar to that of the individuals remaining under optimal conditions throughout the life cycle. Fecundity of N. californicus decreased significantly under winter conditions but reproductive diapause was not observed.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica de Argentina (the National Agency for Promotion of Science and Technology of Argentina), grant PICT 2015-1427 and the Program of Incentives for Professors-Researchers of the National Ministry of Culture and Education of Argentina, grants N712 and N834. Dr. Donald F. Haggerty is acknowledged for editing a draft version of the manuscript. We thank Graciela Minardi for help with the statistical analyses and María Laura Morote for help with the figures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Evaluación Sensorial de Alimentos (DESA–ISETA), 9 de Julio, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    María Fernanda Gugole Ottaviano

  2. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, UNLP, CONICET, Boulevard 120 s/no. 60 y 64, CP1900, La Plata, Argentina

    Mariángeles Alonso, Claudia Cédola, Mariana Pascua, Martha Roggiero & Nancy Greco

  3. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, La Plata, Argentina

    María Fernanda Gugole Ottaviano & Nancy Greco

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  1. María Fernanda Gugole Ottaviano
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  2. Mariángeles Alonso
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  3. Claudia Cédola
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  4. Mariana Pascua
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  5. Martha Roggiero
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  6. Nancy Greco
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Correspondence to Nancy Greco.

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Gugole Ottaviano, M.F., Alonso, M., Cédola, C. et al. Overwintering of the Argentine strain of Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Exp Appl Acarol 76, 311–323 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-018-0317-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-018-0317-0

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