Experimental and Applied Acarology (2009) 47, 49-61

Raquel Abad-Moyano, Tatiana Pina, Óscar Dembilio, Francisco Ferragut and Alberto Urbaneja (2009)
Survey of natural enemies of spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) in citrus orchards in eastern Spain
Experimental and Applied Acarology 47 (1), 49-61
Abstract: Field surveys were conducted from 2004 to 2007 to determine the species composition and relative abundance of natural enemies associated with colonies of either the citrus red mite, Panonychus citri, or the two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, in Valencian citrus orchards (eastern Spain). Fourteen species were recorded, six phytoseiid mites and eight insect predators. Two of them are reported for the first time on citrus in Spain and two more are first reports as predators associated with T. urticae. The community of predators associated with T. urticae and P. citri was almost identical, and the Morisita-Horn index of similarity between both natural enemy complexes was close to one, suggesting that predators forage on both pest species. Quantifying the presence of many known spider mites predators in Valencian citrus orchards is an important first step towards spider mite control. A challenge for future studies will be to establish conservation and/or augmentation management strategies for these predators, especially to improve T. urticae biological control.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Tatiana Pina, Alberto Urbaneja, Francisco Ferragut

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
surveys/distribution/isolation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Tetranychus urticae	Citrus (genus)	Spain (continental)
	Panonychus citri	Citrus (genus)	Spain (continental)