Chinese Journal of Entomology (1999) 19, 257-264

Chyi-Chen Ho and Wen-Hua Chen (1999)
Evaluation of feeding and ovipositing responses of three phytoseiid mites to amounts of Kanzawa spider mite eggs (Acari: Phytoseiidae, Tetranychidae)
Chinese Journal of Entomology 19 (3), 257-264
Abstract: Amblyseius womersleyi Shicha is common in Taiwan and feeds on spider mites, providing good control of Tetranychus kanzawai Kishida. A. fallacis (Garman) and Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot are exotic phytoseiids imported from the United States and/or Australia to Taiwan for the control of T. urticae Koch. To compare their abilities to control spider mites, daily food consumption and fecundity of these phytoseiids when provided with 0, 2, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 120 Kanzawa spider mite eggs were studied at 28°C and a photoperiod of 13:11 (L: D) in an incubator. These predators responded differently to food availability. With a food supply as low as 2 spider mite eggs per day, A. womersleyi would remain on the leaf disc and finish the food; A. fallacis tended to finish the food and leave; while P. persimilis might leave without feeding. Escape behavior of A. fallacis and P. persimilis decreased after 10 or more spider mite eggs were provided daily. With a supply of 20 or more spider mite eggs, P. persimilis ate more than the others did. A. womersleyi and A. fallacis reached their normal fecundity after 20 or more spider mite eggs were provided per day, indicating that this is likely to be their daily food requirement. P. persimilis reached normal fecundity after 40 spider mite eggs were supplied daily. Its daily food requirement is probably around 30 spider mite eggs. Supplied with 120 spider mite eggs daily, fecundity of all three predators significantly decreased. Compared with P. persimilis, A. womersleyi and A. fallacis can be released into lower spider mite densities. A. womersleyi would stay, feed, and oviposit with low food amounts; it feeds more than A. fallacis does when food is plenty, and is prevalent in Taiwan. More studies should be carried on the utilization of this mite in spider mite IPM systems.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Chyi-Chen Ho, Wen Hua Chen

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Tetranychus urticae		Taiwan
	Tetranychus kanzawai		Taiwan
Phytoseiulus persimilis (predator)	Tetranychus urticae		Taiwan
Neoseiulus fallacis (predator)	Tetranychus urticae		Taiwan
Neoseiulus womersleyi (predator)	Tetranychus kanzawai		Taiwan