Life-table analyses for the tomato leaf miner,Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae): effects of plant genotype

BACKGROUND

Host plant resistance plays an important role in integrated pest management programs. Crop resistance assessments commonly focus on only a single dependent variable, such as larval survival/plant damage, which limits the ability to appreciate the impact of host plants on pest populations in the full sense. Therefore, we performed life-table analyses for tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta, on 19 Solanum lycopersicum genotypes and a wild Solanum habrochaites accession. These analyses assess the ability of the pest to attain a high population density on different tomato genotypes. Based on the resulting ranking of tomato resistance at the vegetative stage (45-day-old plants), we tested the resistance of six selected genotypes at the reproductive stage (4-month-old plants).

RESULTS

T. absoluta performance was significantly inferior on vegetative-stage S. habrochaites plants (LA 1777); time taken for the first instars to mine the leaves (5 ± 0.14 days), development time of early- and late-stage larvae (8.8 ± 0.2 and 4.2 ± 0.2 days, respectively), pupal period (11.2 ± 0.58 days), and total developmental time (29.4 ± 0.83 days) were significantly longer, fecundity was significantly lower (18.66 ± 7.24 days), and the highest total mortality (63.33%) also recorded compared with other genotypes, resulting in the lowest net reproductive rate (R₀) (11.20 ± 2.51). For the six selected genotypes, the ranking of plant resistance did not change between plants at the vegetative and reproductive stages.

CONCLUSION

This study suggested that of 20 screened tomato genotypes, LA 1777 and EC-620343 are the least suitable hosts for T. absoluta to establish fast-growing populations, and thus can be employed in integrated T. absoluta management. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Systemically released volatiles from Solena amplexicaulis plant leaves with color cues influencing attraction of a generalist insect herbivore

Solena amplexicaulis (Lam.) Gandhi (Cucurbitaceae) is a promising vegetable in Southeast Asia. Infestation of Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) adults on leaves of the crop plant causes death of the plant and reduces crop production. Currently, growers are applying insecticides to control this pest, which are harmful to health and environment. Hence, an attempt has been made to find out allelochemicals from leaves attracting the insect, which might be used for ecofriendly pest management program. The emission of volatiles was detected from undamaged leaves of herbivore-induced plants after 24 h and 120 h of continuous females feeding on lower leaves of the same plants by GC-MS and GC-FID analysis. The insect showed attraction to systemically released volatiles from herbivore-induced plants against unharmed plants in Y-shaped glass tube olfactometer bioassays. The insect was attracted to a synthetic blend of 1.2 µg linalool oxide + 3.2 µg nonanal + 1.5 µg trans-2-nonenal dissolved in 20 µL CH₂Cl₂ in olfactometer and wind tunnel bioassays, and hence, this blend could be used in development of baited traps in pest management strategies.     

Population density and feeding duration of cabbage looper larvae on tomato plants alter the levels of plant volatile emissions

BACKGROUND: As part of their indirect defense, plants under herbivore attack release volatile chemicals that attract natural enemies of the herbivore. This is a very well-documented phenomenon. However, relatively few studies have investigated the response of plants to different population levels of herbivores and their feeding duration. RESULTS: Working with larvae of the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hübner), and tomato plants, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill cv. clarence, and using an ultrafast gas chromatograph (the zNose™) for volatile analyses, the authors studied the effect of larval density and feeding duration on levels of plant volatile emissions. Intense herbivory caused higher emission levels of the herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, (E)-β-ocimene and β-caryophyllene than those caused by moderate herbivory. When herbivory had ceased following 12–24 h of larval feeding, plants kept releasing HIPVs at a high level for a longer period of time than they did following only 6 h of larval feeding. The plants' slow adjustment in their volatile emissions following prolonged larval feeding might be strategic, as such feeding is more likely to have ceased just temporarily. CONCLUSION: This information may help in the development of a pest monitoring system that is based on herbivore-induced plant volatiles. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Greenhouse and field‐based studies on the distribution of dimethoate in cotton and its effect on Tetranychus urticae by drip irrigation

BACKGROUND

The two‐spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch is an important pest of cotton. We investigated the efficacy of dimethoate in controlling T. urticae by drip irrigation. Greenhouse and field experiments were carried out to determine the efficacy of dimethoate to T. urticae and the absorption and distribution of dimethoate in cotton.

RESULTS

Greenhouse results showed that cotton leaves received higher amounts of dimethoate compared with cotton roots and stems, with higher amounts in young leaves compared with old leaves and cotyledon having the lowest amounts among leaves. Field results showed the efficacy of dimethoate to T. urticae by drip irrigation varied by volume of dripping water, soil pH and dimethoate dosage. Dimethoate applied at 3.00 kg ha^–1 with 200 m³ ha^–1 water at weak acidic soil pH (5.70–6.70) through drip irrigation can obtain satisfactory control efficacy (81.49%, 7 days) to T. urticae, without negatively impacting on its natural enemy Neoseiulus cucumeris. The residue of dimethoate in all cotton seed samples were not detectable.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate the effectiveness of applying dimethoate by drip irrigation for control of T. urticae on cotton. This knowledge could aid in the applicability of dimethoate by drip irrigation for field management of T. urticae populations. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry     

Olfactory response of the ladybird beetle <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stethorus gilvifrons</Emphasis> to two preys and herbivore-induced plant volatiles

The spider mites Tetranychus urticae Koch and Panonychus ulmi (Koch) (Tetranychidae) cause severe economic losses to vegetable farms and deciduous fruit orchards in Turkey. One of their predators, the ladybird beetle Stethorus gilvifrons (Muls.) (Col., Coccinellidae), aggregates on mite-infested patches of plants. The present study assessed whether there is a role for herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) and/or odors emitted directly from these two mite species in the aggregative response of ladybird beetles. The olfactory responses of the predator females to volatiles from T. urticae- and/or P. ulmi-infested sweet pepper (four cultivars, viz. ‘Demre’, ‘Yalova Carliston’, ‘Kandil Dolma’ and ‘Yag Biberi’), kidney bean (cv. ‘Barbunya’) and apple (M9 rootstock) were investigated using a two-choice olfactometer. Our results showed that HIPVs emitted from both T. urticae- and P. ulmi-infested plants significantly attracted S. gilvifrons adults for all plants except the sweet pepper cv. Yag Biberi. In addition, it was found that volatiles from apple plants infested by T. urticae and, especially, P. ulmi are more attractive for S. gilvifrons females than those emitted by other infested plants. The results also suggest that the odors of T. urticae adults and their products might influence the attraction of S. gilvifrons females.     

The effects of timing and rate of release on population growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytoseiulus persimilis</Emphasis> reared on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tetranychus urticae</Emphasis>

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the timing and rate of release on the population growth of Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) reared on bean plants infested with two-spotted spider mite (TSM), Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae). Dwarf bean plants were infested with TSM and 20 P. persimilis females were introduced on each plant 3, 6, 9 and 12 days following TSM infestation. In another experiment, female P. persimilis were introduced at the rates of 5, 10 and 20 per plant 6 days after TSM infestation. The maximum per capita net population growth (MCPG) of P. persimilis was estimated as the maximum number of mobile stages observed on a plant during the course of the experiment divided by the initial number of females released on that plant. Both the timing and rate of release had a significant effect on the MCPG of P. persimilis. Releasing 20 P. persimilis on day nine resulted in an MCPG of 2.97, whereas releases on day 3, 6 or 12 resulted in MCPG values of less than 1.7. In the rate of release experiment, the highest MCPG (4.4) occurred when five female P. persimilis were released per plant, whereas releasing 10 and 20 predatory mites per plant led to MCPG values of 2.71 and 1.66, respectively. The findings indicate that the productivity of a P. persimilis rearing system may be significantly improved through optimization of the timing and/or rate of release.     

Resistance of tomato accessions from the horticulture germplasm bank to red spider mites: exploring mite preference patterns and antixenosis mechanism

The red spider mite Tetranychus evansi can cause up to 90% yield losses to tomato crops. Mechanisms and causes of plant resistance to this pest could contribute to improved planning of plant breeding programs that prevent damage by this pest. It is known that the morphology and chemical compounds present in tomato plants are important to Tetranychus spp. success. This study aims at evaluating the resistance of 84 arbitrarily chosen tomato accessions – obtained from the Horticulture Germplasm of the Universidade Federal de Viçosa (HGB-UFV), Minas Gerais State, Brazil – to T. evansi. We evaluated the number of spider mites per leaf disk, number of trichomes/mm2, and the concentration of hydrocarbons of leaf disk. A significant difference in the number of T. evansi adults/leaf disk was found among accessions. The resistance mechanism of the HGB-UFV accessions was determined to be antixenosis. Accessions 2004, 2098, 2121, and 2100 had higher trichome density and the lowest adult T. evansi per tomato leaf disk. For this reason, these accessions should be chosen as sources of resistance in plant breeding programs. The hydrocarbons C₁₁, C₁₃, and C₂₂ had a negative correlation with T. evansi adults per leaf disk.     

联肼·乙螨唑对蔬菜优势叶螨产卵发育的影响及其田间防效

为明确新型复配杀螨剂联肼·乙螨唑对目前蔬菜田常发生的2种优势叶螨二斑叶螨Tetranychus urticae和截形叶螨T. truncatus的杀螨活性,于室内采用离体叶碟法测定其对这2种叶螨产卵及发育的影响,于室外采用活体植株评价该药剂对2种叶螨的田间防效。结果表明,经复配杀螨剂联肼·乙螨唑及其单剂处理2种叶螨雌成螨24 h后,死亡率为20.50%～54.98%,均显著高于清水对照;联肼·乙螨唑处理较清水对照显著降低了2种叶螨卵发育至若螨期的比率,联肼·乙螨唑处理后二斑叶螨和截形叶螨的若螨率分别为4.91%和1.63%。田间试验中联肼·乙螨唑对2种叶螨具有一定的速效性,药后3 d对二斑叶螨和截形叶螨的防效分别达95.74%和89.83%,药后7 d防效分别为98.03%和99.44%,显示了优良的防控效果及持效性。表明复配杀螨剂联肼·乙螨唑可用于田间蔬菜优势叶螨种群的高效防控。     

Spiromesifen toxicity to the spider mite <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tetranychus urticae</Emphasis> and selectivity to the predator <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neoseiulus californicus</Emphasis>

Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) is a major pest of several agricultural crops and Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is an important natural enemy of this pest mite. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of spiromesifen on the development and reproduction of T. urticae, and to assess the influence of spiromesifen and other acaricides on the population growth rates of the spider mite and its predator, N. californicus. Toxicity tests with spiromesifen at different life stages of T. urticae indicated that eggs less than 72 h old were more sensitive than other development stages. The oviposition rate of T. urticae was significantly affected by spiromesifen. Experiments on the effects of spiromesifen on the growth rates of T. urticae and N. californicus indicated that spiromesifen is innocuous to the predaceous mite but highly toxic to the spider mite, leading to population suppression in 10 days. Fenpropathrin, acephate and neem oil were not harmful to N. californicus, but were not so efficient as spiromesifen in controlling T. urticae, and had significantly less influence on the population growth rates of the spider mite. Among these three products, only neem oil caused significant reduction in the growth rate of T. urticae. Chlorfenapyr, abamectin, milbemectin and diafenthiuron significantly affected the population growth rates of T. urticae and N. californicus. Spiromesifen was the most promising acaricide for managing the two-spotted spider mite, when used in combination with N. californicus.     

Toxicity of thiamethoxam to Tetranychus urticae Koch and Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari Tetranychidae, Phytoseiidae) through different routes of exposure

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of the impact of insecticides on Tetranychus urticae Koch and its predator Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias‐Henriot is crucial for IPM. This study evaluates the effect of thiamethoxam on T. urticae and its predator by considering different routes of exposure (topical, residual and contaminated food exposures) and their combinations. RESULTS: Thiamethoxam effects on T. urticae were higher when residual and contaminated food exposures were considered. The total effect was higher than 90% where contaminated food exposure was involved. On P. persimilis, the total effect was higher in residual and contaminated prey exposures compared with topical exposure, and all combinations of routes of exposure attained a total effect higher than 90%. CONCLUSION: Thiamethoxam was found to be toxic to T. urticae and P. persimilis; however, the impact of the insecticide depended on the routes of exposure and their combinations. Lethal and sublethal effects occurred in residual and contaminated food exposures, while only sublethal effects occurred in topical exposure of predators and prey. The toxicity of thiamethoxam on prey and predator increased with the number of exposure routes involved. By limiting exposure to thiamethoxam to ingestion of contaminated food only, the impact of the pesticide was more favourable to P. persimilis than to its prey. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Calcium silicate and organic mineral fertilizer increase the resistance of tomato plants to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Frankliniella schultzei</Emphasis>

Frankliniella schultzei Trybon (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is an important pest of tomato plants. The need for more healthful foods is stimulating the development of techniques to increase plant resistance to phytophagous insects. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of calcium silicate and an organic mineral fertilizer, alone or in combination, on the resistance of tomato plants to F. schultzei. The treatments consisted of: control (T1), calcium silicate (T2), organic mineral fertilizer (T3), and calcium silicate with organic mineral fertilizer (T4). The mortality of nymphs of this thrips and the number of lesions on tomato leaves were evaluated after three, six, nine and 12 applications of these products. The number of F. schultzei individuals and of lesions on tomato leaves was lower in treatments T2 and T4 than in T1 and T3, showing a possible increase in tomato resistance to this pest. The increase in the number of applications of calcium silicate and the organic mineral fertilizer increased the mortality of nymphs and reduced the damage by this insect on tomato leaves, mainly after nine applications.     

Chlorfenapyr resistance in the spider mite Tetranychus urticae: stability, cross-resistance and monitoring of resistance

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, is a key pest of many agricultural crops. Studies of stability of resistance, cross-resistance relationships and monitoring of chlorfenapyr resistance were carried out with T. urticae to provide basic information necessary to define effective acaricide resistance management strategies for this pest. Chlorfenapyr resistance was shown to be stable in the absence of selection pressure under laboratory conditions. The activities of seven different acaricides against chlorfenapyr-resistant and -susceptible strains of T. urticae were evaluated. The results indicated possible positive cross-resistance between chlorfenapyr and the acaricides abamectin, propargite and etoxazole. No cross-resistance was detected for the acaricides milbemectin, fenpyroximate and diafenthiuron. A possible negatively correlated cross-resistance was observed between chlorfenapyr and spiromesifen. The evaluation of 21 T. urticae populations from several crops in the States of São Paulo, Mato Grosso, Goiás, and Bahia, in Brazil, indicated that the susceptibility of mites to chlorfenapyr was variable, with percentages of resistant mites ranging from 0.0 to 86.5%. The highest resistance frequencies were observed in ornamental plants in the State of São Paulo. Some populations from cotton and papaya also presented high frequencies of chlorfenapyr resistance. This is the first report on chlorfenapyr resistance in T. urticae on cotton and papaya in Brazil. Strategies for the management of acaricide resistance are discussed.     

Mobility of oxathiapiprolin in and between tomato plants

BACKGROUND

Oxathiapiprolin (OXPT; FRAC code 49) is a new piperidinyl-thiazole isooxazoline anti-oomycete fungicide that targets oxysterol-binding proteins. The fungicide is known to translocate acropetally from root to shoot to protect plants against fungal attack.

RESULTS

OXPT is ambimobile. It can also translocate basipetally from shoot to root. OXPT exhibits an unprecedented capacity for trans-plant protection. When two tomato plants are grown in one pot, and one is treated with OXPT (on the stem, leaves or apex), while the other plant and soil surface are adequately covered, both plants become protected against late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans.

CONCLUSION

Trans-plant systemic protection induced by OXPT involves translocation of the fungicide from the shoot of the treated plant to its root, exudation into the soil and uptake by the root of the neighboring untreated plant to protect it against the disease. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry analyses confirmed the occurrence of OXPT in root exudates of OXPT-treated tomato plants in quantities sufficient to protect detached tomato leaves and intact plants against P. infestans. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Effects of azadirachtin on Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) and its compatibility with predatory mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on strawberry

BACKGROUND: The spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, is the major strawberry pest in Brazil. The main strategies for its control comprise synthetic acaricides and predatory mites. The recent register of a commercial formula of azadirachtin (Azamax^® 12 g L^?1) can be viable for control of T. urticae. In this work, the effects of azadirachtin on T. urticae and its compatibility with predatory mites Neoseiulus californicus and Phytoseiulus macropilis in the strawberry crop were evaluated. RESULTS: Azadirachtin was efficient against T. urticae, with a mortality rate similar to that of abamectin. In addition, the azadirachtin showed lower biological persistence (7 days) than abamectin (21 days). Azadirachtin did not cause significant mortality of adult predatory mites (N. californicus and P. macropilis), but it did reduce fecundity by 50%. However, egg viability of the azadirachtin treatments was similar to that of the control (>80% viability). The use of azadirachtin and predatory mites is a valuable tool for controlling T. urticae in strawberry crop. CONCLUSIONS: Azadirachtin provided effective control of T. urticae and is compatible with the predatory mites N. californicus and P. macropilis. It is an excellent tool to be incorporated into integrated pest management for strawberry crop in Brazil. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

二斑叶螨对阿维菌素抗性的CAPS标记

为了实现二斑叶螨Tetranychus urticae Koch对阿维菌素抗药性的快速检测,本研究建立了一种叶螨对阿维菌素抗药性的快速分子检测技术,即酶切扩增多态性序列(cleaved amplified polymorphic sequences,CAPS)标记技术,检测二斑叶螨谷氨酸门控氯离子通道(Glu Cl3)基因片段上G326E的突变频率,并采用琼脂浸叶法测定田间5个种群对阿维菌素的抗药性。结果表明,北京密云、顺义、昌平、浙江宁波和海南吉阳5个种群对阿维菌素的抗性倍数分别达1 155.63、1 317.10、844.19、314.95和1 799.69倍,均为极高抗性水平;CAPS检测发现我国二斑叶螨抗性基因存在G326E位点突变,但在供试的5个不同种群中突变频率变异很大,其中北京昌平种群G326E突变频率高达90.00%,密云和顺义种群均为26.67%,浙江宁波种群为5.00%,而海南吉阳种群不存在该位点的突变。表明该CAPS标记还需与其它抗性机制或检测技术结合来实现叶螨对阿维菌素抗性的早期检测和预警。     

Synergistic effect of Beauveria bassiana and spirodiclofen on the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae)

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), is one of the most important pests in agriculture. Due to its short life cycle and high reproductive rate, this pest has become resistant to most acaricides. Therefore, finding alternative control strategies for this damaging pest is necessary. Application of microbiological agents with minimum concentrations of acaricides is a very suitable tactic in integrated pest management. In the present study, lethal effects of a chemical acaricide – spirodiclofen, and an Iranian strain of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana, were evaluated on different life stages of the two-spotted spider mite on two host plants, bean and cucumber. In the next step, compatibility of acaricide with the fungus was studied regarding conidial germination and vegetative growth of the fungus in the presence of different concentrations of the acaricide. Finally, the acaricide at rates of LC₂₅ with the fungus at LC₅₀ were sprayed on adult female mites. The results showed that immature stages of T. urticae were more susceptible to the acaricide whereas the adults were more susceptible to the fungus. Also, mites reared on cucumber were significantly more susceptible to the acaricide and fungus than those reared on bean. Spirodiclofen and the fungus had a synergistic effect; percentage of mortality for fungus infection was 48.6% and 53.5% on bean and cucumber, respectively, while it was 80.6% on bean and 84.5% on cucumber when the mite was sprayed with both the fungus and the acaricide.     

Effect of host plants on developmental and population parameters of invasive leafminer, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tuta absoluta</Emphasis> (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is one of the most serious pests of tomato, capable of causing 100% crop losses under favourable conditions. We studied the effect of different host plants on developmental and population parameters of this pest at 25?±?0.5 °C temperature, 70?±?5% relative humidity and 12 L: 12D photoperiod. Host plant had significant effect on the developmental biology and the population growth parameters of the pest. The leafminer developed fastest on tomato leaves and slowest on potato tubers. Population growth parameters like intrinsic rate of increase, net reproductive rate, finite rate of increase, doubling time and weekly multiplication rate of T. absoluta were highest on tomato leaves and lowest on potato tubers. Mean generation time was minimum on tomato leaves and maximum on potato tubers. Females developed on tomato leaves were more fecund than other hosts. Though, tomato was found to be the most suitable host plant of T. absoluta, yet, the pest developed and grew successfully on other alternate hosts like potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) and pepino (Solanum muricatum Aiton). These hosts can, therefore, play an important role in the survival, population build up and overwintering of the miner. Further, under favourable conditions the miner can become a serious pest on these crops and need to be monitored on these crops as well.     

Economic and financial model to the mass-rearing of Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur) (Heteroptera: Miridae), a biological control agent against the tomato moth Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in protected culture

BACKGROUND

Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) is a major pest of tomato produced in glasshouses and open field, causing severe damages to crops, reducing the quality of tomato fruits. The current maintenance of the pest populations below the economic threshold is not achieved by natural and classical control, thus requiring the continuous application of biological control agents (BCAs), under an augmentative or inoculative approach. The present study aims to develop an economic and financial model to evaluate the commercial viability of a continuous mass production of Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur), a BCA commonly used against the tomato moth, Tuta absoluta, in protected culture. The estimations for our model were based on two approaches: the farm-level impact analysis and the benefit–cost analysis.

RESULTS

The results of the farm-level analysis show that the adoption of a more sustainable biological control approach is profitable for farmers and the benefit–cost analysis provides evidence that the investment on a new factory dedicated to the mass rearing of M. pygmaeus to control tomato moth populations generates a positive net present value (NPV) of 7.2 million euros, corresponding to an internal rate of return (IRR) of 28.4% per year.

CONCLUSION

Our results are in line with (i) the more recent European Commission proposals for a new Regulation on sustainable use of plant protection products, which includes the reduction of 50% the use and risk of chemical pesticides by 2030 and (ii) most of the existing literature which conclude that new projects on BCA production are worth investments. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Comparative life history characteristics of the mite predator Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on mite and pollen diets

The food diversification strategy that can offer suitable nutrients as a diet for the natural enemies may possibly help to decrease pest populations by boosting the efficiency of predators. Therefore, my objective was to evaluate the effects of plant and animal diets on biological parameters of the phytoseiid mite Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans). This predator that is a natural enemy of mites was reared on plant pollens (maize (Zea mays L.), sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), mungbean (Vigna radiata L.), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), and rose (Rosa multiflora Thunb.), offered alone, and in combination with the prey mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank). Results showed that N. cucumeris fed, developed and reproduced better when it was provided with plant and animal diets together, compared to pollens offered alone. The predator showed the most efficient capability for completion of life parameters (development, survival, fecundity, oviposition, longevity and instantaneous rate of increase) with maize and mungbean ingested pollens in combination with T. putrescentiae. The least competency was observed on cucumber and rose pollens used separately. The lowest developmental time of the predator from neonate larva to adult emergence, the highest immature survivorship, higher fecundity, long oviposition period, and the highest adult female's life span were observed when offered maize pollens along with T. putrescentiae compared to other treatments. Accordingly, the instantaneous rate of population increase (r_i) day^?1 was surpassed by N. cucumeris for the combination of pollen and T. putrescentiae diets than pollens utilized alone. It is determined that N. cucumeris can reproduce and develop more successfully on a food complex consisting of pollen and animal diets than any single diet. These findings reveal that pollen can be used by N. cucumeris as a suitable alternative food in periods when prey in the field is sparse or absent. Moreover, such propensity of predators to feed on food from plant origin increases their survival during periods when prey is locally scarce, but natural enemies might occur at the expense of an ability to utilize food as efficiently as specialized predators to boost the management strategies of pest species in field's ecosystem.     

Effects of pesticides on mite predators (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and colonization of apple trees byTetranychus urticae

A 2-year survey of mite populations and pesticide use was carried out in Nova Scotia, Canada, in apple orchards where the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) was the dominant phytophagous mite. Fungicides were the only class of pesticides that affected cumulative number ofT. urticae-days per leaf in tree canopies and colonization success — the ratio ofT. urticae-days to number of immigratingT. urticae caught in sticky bands on tree trunks. In 2000, increased numbers ofT. urticae-days in the tree canopy were associated with more frequent applications of ethylene bis-dithiocarbamate (EBDC) fungicides and with higher fungicide toxicity scores, which indicate cumulative level of suppression of the phytoseiid predatorTyphlodromus pyri Scheuten by all fungicide applications. Higher rates of colonization success were also associated with higher toxicity scores. EBDC’s applied in 2000 promotedT. urticae immigration as indicated by their counts on sticky bands. In 2000 and 2001, number ofT. pyri-days in the tree canopies was decreased by more frequent EBDC applications and by higher fungicide toxicity scores. Promotion ofT. urticae in tree canopies by EBDC’s was attributed to their toxicity toT. pyri. BothT. pyri and another phytoseiid,Amblyseius fallacis (Garman), were found in ground cover vegetation. Hence, increased immigration from the ground cover attributed to the toxicity of EBDC’s toT. pyri and, especially, toA. fallacis, which is a specialist predator of spider mites and an effective natural enemy ofT. urticae. http//www.phytoparasitica.org posting Sept. 13, 2006. Formerly, Atlantic Food and Horticulture Research Centre, now retired.