Journal of Insect Behavior (2009) 22, 375-387

Jeyasankar Alagarmalai, Mor Grinberg, Rafael Perl-Treves and Victoria Soroker (2009)
Host selection by the herbivorous mite Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Acari: Tarsonemidae)
Journal of Insect Behavior 22 (5), 375-387
Abstract: This study examined the host-selection ability of the broad mite Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) (Acari: Tarsonemidae). To make long-distance-shifts from one host plant patch to another, broad mites largely depend on phoretic association with whiteflies. However, the host plants of whiteflies and broad mites are not necessarily the same. We determined the host-preference and acceptance of free-moving and phoretic broad mites using two behavioral bioassays. We used a choice test to monitor host selection by free-moving mites. In the case of phoretic mites, we compared their rate of detachment from the phoretic vector Bemisia tabaci placed on leaves taken from various host plants. The suitability of the plant was further determined by monitoring mite's fecundity and its offspring development. We compared the mites' responses to young and old cucumber (Cucumis sativus cv. 'Kfir') leaves (3rd and 8-9th leaf from the apex, respectively), and two tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cvs. 'M82' and 'Moneymaker'). Free-moving mites of all stages and both sexes preferred young cucumber leaves to old cucumber leaves and preferred young cucumber rather than young tomato leaves, demonstrating for the first time that broad mites are able to choose their host actively. As for phoretic mated females, although eventually most of the mites abandoned the phoretic vector, the rate of detachment from the whitefly vector was host dependent and correlated with the mites' fitness on the particular host. In general, host preference of phoretic female mites resembled that of the free-moving female. Cues used by mites for host selection remain to be explored.
(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): Victoria Soroker, Mor Grinberg

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
population dynamics/ epidemiology

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Polyphagotarsonemus latus	Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
	Polyphagotarsonemus latus	Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)