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Interactions in a tritrophic acarine predator– prey metapopulation system: prey location and distance moved by Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

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Abstract

The between-plant movement of the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis was studied in a greenhouse. The aims were to determine the distance moved by P. persimilis and the response of the predator to the location of a plant infested with two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae. In addition, we tested whether the predator exhibits random movement between plants or whether its dispersal is oriented. We found that a high proportion of the predators released on a central plant were able to reach plants at the periphery provided the plants were connected to the central plant with 'bridges'. The results further showed that P. persimilis does not disperse randomly to the surrounding plants. The distribution of immigrants was influenced by the position of an infested plant in the neighbourhood, but light/shadow effects in the greenhouse may also influence the choice of direction. The likely implications of the findings for biological control are discussed. © Rapid Science Ltd. 1998

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Entomology, Branišovská šeské -, Budšjovice, Czech-Republic

    R. Zemek

  2. Department of Population Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken, Copenhagen, Denmark

    G. Nachman

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  1. R. Zemek
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  2. G. Nachman
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Zemek, R., Nachman, G. Interactions in a tritrophic acarine predator– prey metapopulation system: prey location and distance moved by Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Exp Appl Acarol 23, 21–40 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006156931391

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