Neotropical Entomology (2010) 39, 991-995

Fernando R. da Silva, Gilberto J. de Moraes, Manoel G.C. Gondim Jr., Markus Knapp, Sigrid L. Rouam, Jefferson L.A. Paes and Guilherme M. de Oliveira (2010)
Efficiency of Phytoseiulus longipes Evans as a control agent of Tetranychus evansi Baker and Pritchard (Acari: Phytoseiidae: Tetranychidae) on screenhouse tomatoes
Neotropical Entomology 39 (6), 991-995
Abstract: The spider mite Tetranychus evansi Baker and Pritchard can cause severe damage to tomato crops. The predatory mite Phytoseiulus longipes Evans was recently reported in association with T. evansi in Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of P. longipes on the population of T. evansi on tomatoes under screenhouse condition. The study consisted on four experiments, in each of which 80 potted plantlets were distributed in two plots of 40 plantlets each. Two weeks later, each plantlet of both plots was infested with eight adult females of T. evansi; one week after, four adult females of P. longipes were released onto each plant of one plot. The population levels of T. evansi and the damage caused by these mites were significantly lower (P < 0.05; linear mixed-effect model) in the plots where P. longipes had been released. The results indicate the potential of this predator as a candidate for classical biological control of T. evansi by inoculative releases on tomato plants.
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Database assignments for author(s): Markus Knapp, Gilberto J. de Moraes

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 evansi	Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
Phytoseiulus longipes (predator)	Tetranychus evansi	Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)