Abstract
Predation of the entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema feltiae (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), by Sancassania sp. (Acari: Acaridae) isolated from field-collected scarab larvae was examined under laboratory conditions. Adult female mites consumed more than 80% of the infective juvenile (IJ) stage of S. feltiae within 24 h. When S. feltiae IJs were exposed to the mites for 24 h and then exposed to Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae, the number of nematodes penetrating into the larvae was significantly lower compared to S. feltiae IJs that were not exposed to mites (control). Soil type significantly affected the predation rate of IJs by the mites. Mites preyed more on nematodes in sandy soil than in loamy soil. We also observed that the mites consumed more S. feltiae IJs than Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae). No phoretic relationship was observed between mites and nematodes and the nematodes did not infect the mites.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Dr. Barry M. OConnor (Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI) for identification of Sancassania sp. and three anonymous reviewers for their comments on an earlier draft of the manuscript. We also thank to Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Council for supporting our study.
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Karagoz, M., Gulcu, B., Cakmak, I. et al. Predation of entomopathogenic nematodes by Sancassania sp. (Acari: Acaridae). Exp Appl Acarol 43, 85–95 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-007-9105-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-007-9105-y