Pest Management Science (2018) 74, 2618-2625

Xuan Cheng, Ary A. Hoffmann, James L. Maino and Paul A. Umina (2018)
A cryptic diapause strategy in Halotydeus destructor (Tucker) (Trombidiformes: Penthaleidae) induced by multiple cues
Pest Management Science 74 (11), 2618-2625
Abstract:
BACKGROUND
The polyphagous mite pest, Halotydeus destructor, typically has three generations during the cool moist season in Australia and produces over-summering diapause eggs in spring. Diapause eggs have a distinct thick and dark chorion and can survive heat, desiccation and the application of pesticides. Farmers suppress mites producing diapause eggs by a carefully timed spring pesticide application using Timerite^®, which predicts the onset of diapause egg production based largely on day length. We investigated the association between diapause induction and other environmental factors that may complicate diapause predictions.
RESULTS
Diapause in H. destructor induction was influenced by three interacting environmental factors, namely day length, temperature and soil moisture. A cryptic type of diapause egg that lacked a thick chorion and was instead morphologically similar to non-diapause eggs was also discovered. Like diapause eggs, this newly discovered egg type could also survive hot and dry summer conditions.
CONCLUSIONS
There is an opportunity to refine the Timerite^® spring spray by incorporating knowledge of other environmental factors inducing diapause in H. destructor. Compared with typical diapause eggs, the production of cryptic diapause eggs could reflect a strategy to deal with diversifying environmental stresses and/or represent a bet-hedging strategy to adapt to unpredictable environments.
(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): Ary A. Hoffmann, Paul A. Umina

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Halotydeus destructor