Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Phytoseiid mites in protected crops: the effect of humidity and food availability on egg hatch and adult life span of Iphiseius degenerans, Neoseiulus cucumeris, N. californicus and Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

  • Published:
Experimental & Applied Acarology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effect of relative humidity on egg hatch success for Iphiseius degenerans, Neoseiulus californicus and N. cucumeris was described by a binomial model with a parallel slope. The shape of the response differed for Phytoseiulus persimilis and a model with separate parameters gave a significantly better fit. Fitted response curves showed that I. degenerans, N. cucumeris, N. californicus and P. persimilis were ranked by decreasing tolerance to low humidity, with egg mortalities of <0.5, 3, 12 and 16% respectively at 75–80% RH at 20 °C. Egg stage duration for I. degenerans and N. cucumeris was unaffected over the range 60–82% RH. For N. californicus and P. persimilis egg duration was significantly longer at 60 and 70% than for either 82 or 90% RH. No effect of relative humidity was found on the mean life span of adult females when food was available continuously to the mites. N. californicus lived significantly longer (58 days after the first egg was laid) than the other species. No significant difference was observed in mean life span between adult females of I. degenerans and N. cucumeris (25 and 28 days respectively). The mean life span of adult female P. persimilis (19 days) was significantly shorter than the other species. In the absence of both food and water, the survival of adult female mites was reduced to 2–4 days. Survival time was at least doubled when free water was available in the absence of food. Mean survival of adult female mites with water but without food was 10 days for N. cucumeris, 18 days for N. californicus, 6 days for P. persimilis and 4 days for I. degenerans. Survival of adult female N. cucumeris and N. californicus was increased significantly, to 20 and 22 days respectively, when fungal hyphae were present along with water but in the absence of other food.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abou-Awad B.A., Reda A.S. and Elsawi S.A. 1992. Effects of artificial and natural diets on the development and reproduction of two phytoseiid mites Amblyseius gossipi and Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Insect Sci. Appl. 13: 441–445.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baier B. 1991. Relative humidity-a decisive factor for the use of oligophagous predatory mites in pest control. In: Dusa´bek F. and Bukuva V. (eds) Modern Acarology. Vol. 2. Academia, Prague and SPB Academic Publishing, The Hague, pp. 661–665.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bakker F.M., Klein M.E., Mesa N.C. and Braun A.R. 1993. Saturation deficit tolerance spectra of phytophagous mites and their phytoseiid predators on cassava. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 17: 97–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blümel S. and Walzer A. 2002. Efficacy of different release strategies of Neoseiulus californicus McGregor and Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) for the control of two spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) on greenhouse cut roses. Syst. Appl. Acarol. 7: 35–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Castagnoli M. and Simoni S. 1991. Influenza della temperatura sull'incremnto delle populazioni di Amblyseius californicus (McGregor) (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Redia 74: 621–640.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chant D.A. 1959. Phytoseiid mites (Acarina Phytoseiidae). Part I. Bionomics of seven species in southeastern England. Can. Entomol. 91 (Suppl. 12): 5–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Croft B.A., Messing R.H., Dunley J.E. and Strong W.B. 1993. Effects of humidity on eggs and immatures of Neoseiulus fallacis, Amblyseius andersoni, Metaseiulus occidentalis and Typlodromus pyri (Phytoseiidae): implications for biological control on apple, caneberry, strawberry and hop. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 17: 451–459.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Moraes G.J. and McMurtry J.A. 1981. Biology of Amblyseius citrifolius (Denmark and Muma) (Acarina: Phytoseiidae). Hilgardia 49: 1–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferro D.N. and Chapman R.B. 1979. Effects of different constant humidities and temperatures on two spotted spider mite egg hatch. Environ. Entomol. 8: 701–705.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferro D.N. and Southwick E.E. 1984. Microclimates of small arthropods: estimating humidity within the leaf boundary layer. Environ. Entomol. 13: 926–929.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flechtmann C.H.W. and McMurtry J.A. 1992a. Studies on how phytoseiid mites feed on spider mites and pollen. Int. J. Acarol. 18: 157–162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flechtmann C.H.W. and McMurtry J.A. 1992b. Studies of cheliceral and deutosternal morphology of some Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) by scanning electron microscopy. Int. J. Acarol. 18: 163–169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaede K. 1992. On the water balance of Phytoseiulus persimilis A.-H. and its ecological significance. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 15: 181–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • GenStat 2000. GenStat for Windows. Release 4.2. VSN International Ltd., Oxford, UK.

  • Gillespie D.R. and Quiring D.J.M. 1994. Reproduction and longevity of the predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and its prey, Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) on different host plants. J. Entomol. Soc. Brit. Columbia 91: 3–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilstrap F.E. and Friese D.D. 1985. The predatory potential of Phytoseiulus persimilis, Amblyseius californicus and Metaseiulus occidentalis (Acarina: Phytoseiidae). Int. J. Acarol. 11: 163–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holtzer T.O., Norman J.H., Perring T.M., Berry J.S. and Heinz J.C. 1988. Effects of microenvironment on the dynamics of spider mite populations. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 4: 247–264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kropczynńka-Linkiewicz 1971. Studies on the feeding of four species of phytoseiid mites (Acarina: Phytoseiidae). In: Daniel M. and Rosický B. (eds) Proceedings of the Third International Congress on Acarology. Academia, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Prague, pp. 225–227.

    Google Scholar 

  • McMurtry J.A. and Croft B.A. 1997. Life-styles of phytoseiid mites and their roles in biological control. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 42: 291–321.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • O'Brien F.E.M. 1948. The control of humidity by saturated salt solutions. J. Sci. Instrum. 25: 73–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Overmeer W.P.J. 1985. Rearing and handling.In: Helle W. and Sabelis M.W. (eds) Spider Mites: Their Biology, Natural Enemies and Control, Vol. 1B. Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, pp 161–170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson A. 1964. Entomological Techniques. Edwards Brothers, Michigan, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramakers P.M.J. and van Lieburg M.J. 1988. Start of commercial production and introduction of Amblyseius mckenziei Sch. and Pr. (Acarina: Phytoseiidae) for the control of Thrips tabaci Lind. (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in glasshouses. Med. Fac. Landbouww. Rijksuniv. Gent 47 (2): 541–545.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rencken I.C. and Pringle K.L. 1998. Development of Amblyseius cucumeris (McGregor) (Acarina: Phytoseiidae), a predator of tetranychid mites, at three temperatures. Afr. Entomol. 6: 41–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sabelis M.W. 1981.Biological control of two-spotted spider mites using phytoseiid predators. Part I. Modelling the predator-prey interaction at the individual level. Agric. Res. Rep.Agric. Univ., Wageningen 910: 1–242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sabelis M.W. and Janssen A. 1994. Evolution of life-history patterns in the Phytoseiidae. In: Houck M.A. (ed.) Mites, Ecological and Evolutionary Analyses of Life-history Patterns. Chapman and Hall, New York, pp. 70–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sabelis M.W. and Nagelkerke C.J. 1993. Sex allocation and pseudoarrhenotoky in phytoseiid mites. In: Wrensch D.L. and Ebbert M.A. (eds) Evolution and Diversity of Sex Ratio in Insects and Mites. Chapman and Hall, New York, pp. 512–541.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schausberger P. 1998. The influence of relative humidity on egg hatch in Euseius finlandicus, Typhlodromus pyri, and Kampimodromus aberrans (Acari, Phytoseiidae). J. Appl. Ent. 122: 497–500.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schausberger P. and Walzer A. 2001. Combined versus single species release of predaceous mites: predator-predator interactions and pest suppression. Biol. Control 20: 269–278.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shipp J.L. and van Houten Y.M. 1997. Influence of temperature and vapour pressure deficit on survival of the predatory mite Amblyseius cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Environ. Entomol. 26: 106–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skirvin D.J., de Courcy Williams M. and Fenlon J. 1999. Individual-based models for biological control in ornamentals; a framework for the future. Aspects of Applied Biology 55, Information Technology for Crop Protection, pp. 73–79.

  • Takahashi F. and Chant D.A. 1994. Adaptive strategies in the genus Phytoseiulus Evans (Acari: Phytoseiidae). II. Survivorship and reproduction. Int. J. Acarol. 20: 87–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Dinh N., Sabelis M.W. and Janssen A.J. 1988. Influence of humidity and water availability on the survival of Amblyseius idaeus and A. anonymus (Acarina: Phytoseiidae). Exp. Appl. Acarol. 4: 27–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Haren R.J.F., Steenhuis M.M., Sabelis M.W. and de Ponti O.M.B. 1987. Tomato stem trichomes and dispersal success of Phytoseiulus persimilis relative to its prey, Tetranychus urticae. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 3: 115–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Houten Y.M., van Rijn P.C.J., Tanigoshi L.K., van Stratum P. and Bruin J. 1995. Preselection of predatory mites to improve year-round biological control of western flower thrips in greenhouse crops. Ent. Exp. Appl. 74: 225–234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Rijn P.C.J. and Tanigoshi L.K. 1999a. Pollen as food for the predatory mites Iphiseius degenerans and Neoseiulus cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae): dietary range and life history. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 23: 785–802.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Rijn P.C.J. and Tanigoshi L.K. 1999b. The contribution of extrafloral nectar to survival and reproduction of the predatory mite Iphiseius degenerans on Ricinus communis. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 23: 281–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walzer A. and Schausberger P. 1999. Cannibalism and interspecific predation in the phytoseiid mites Phytoseiulis persimilis and Neoseiulus californicus: predation rates and effects on reproduction and juvenile development. BioControl 43: 457–468.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walzer A., Blümel S. and Schausberger P. 2001. Population dynamics of interacting predatory mites, Phytoseiulis persimilis and Neoseiulus californicus, held on detached bean leaves. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 25: 731–743.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Winston P.W. and Bates D.H. 1960. Saturated solutions for the control of humidity in biological research. Ecology 41 (1): 232–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zaher M.A. and Shehata K.K. 1971. Biological studies on the predator mite Typhlodromus pyri Sch. (Acarina Phytoseiidae) with the effect of prey and non prey substances. Z. Agnew. Entomol. 64: 389–394.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zemek R. and Prenerová E. 1997. Powdery mildew (Ascomycotina: Erysiphales)-an alternative food for the predatory mite Typhlodromus pyri Scheuten (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Exp. Appl. Acarol. 21: 405–414.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Z.-Q. 1995. Variance and covariance of ovipositional rates and development rates in the phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata): a phylogenetic consideration. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 19: 139–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biocontrol and IPM Research Team, Horticulture Research International, Wellesbourne, Warwickshire, CV35 9EF, UK

    Michael E. De Courcy Williams, Lidija Kravar-garde, John S. Fenlon & Keith D. Sunderland

Authors
  1. Michael E. De Courcy Williams
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lidija Kravar-garde
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. John S. Fenlon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Keith D. Sunderland
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael E. De Courcy Williams.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

De Courcy Williams, M.E., Kravar-garde, L., Fenlon, J.S. et al. Phytoseiid mites in protected crops: the effect of humidity and food availability on egg hatch and adult life span of Iphiseius degenerans, Neoseiulus cucumeris, N. californicus and Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Exp Appl Acarol 32, 1–13 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:APPA.0000018170.46836.11

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:APPA.0000018170.46836.11

Search

Navigation