Experimental and Applied Acarology (2012) 58, 121-131

Da-Rui Zheng, Guang-Hua Liu, Run-Jie Zhang, Andrew G.S. Cuthbertson and Bao-Li Qiu (2012)
Evaluation of the predatory mite Amblyseius hainanensis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and artificial rainfall for the management of Brevipalpus obovatus (Acari: Tenuipalpidae)
Experimental and Applied Acarology 58 (2), 121-131
Abstract: Brevipalpus obovatus Donnadieu is an important pest mite on tea plants in South China. In the current study, predatory mites of B. obovatus in the tea gardens of Guangzhou were extensively surveyed. In total, 13 species of predatory mites (four families with seven genera) were recorded. The population proportion of Amblyseius hainanensis Wu et Qian was the highest (68.6 %), followed by that of Anystis baccarum (L.) (8.4 %) and A. theae Wu (6.3 %). The effects of starvation time, habitat size and pest population density on the predatory efficiency of the most dominant species, A. hainanensis, feeding on B. obovatus were assessed. In addition, the effectiveness of artificial rainfall in reducing B. obovatus populations was evaluated. After starvation for 48 h, the predatory efficiency of A. hainanensis was significantly higher than those that had been starved for 24 or 72 h when 30-50 B. obovatus eggs were made available. The predation of A. hainanensis on B. obovatus also increased with increasing prey density. The number of prey attacked by A. hainanensis in a 3.2 cm² habitat was significantly higher than in a 6.3 cm² habitat. The average predation of A. hainanensis was 31.7 eggs per day when offered 100 B. obovatus eggs on a tea leaf. This decreased to 17.8 eggs per day when four A. hainanensis shared 100 B. obovatus eggs. B. obovatus populations can be reduced by artificial rainfall, with the reduction affected by rainfall intensity. With an intensity of 40 mm in 15 min, 90.2 % mortality of B. obovatus occurred; lower mortalities were recorded (13.3 and 29.8 %) when the intensity was 2 or 4 mm in 15 min. Combination of the predatory mite A. hainanensis and artificial rainfall for the integrated pest management of B. obovatus is discussed.
(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): Bao-Li Qiu, Runjie Zhang, Andrew G.S. Cuthbertson

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Brevipalpus obovatus	Tea (Camellia sinensis)	China (south)
Anystis baccarum (predator)	Brevipalpus obovatus	Tea (Camellia sinensis)	China (south)
Amblyseius hainanensis (predator)	Brevipalpus obovatus	Tea (Camellia sinensis)	China (south)