The Canadian Entomologist (2022) 154 (1 - e33)

Justin M. Renkema, Erica Pate and Chrystel Olivier (2022)
The temporal distribution of cyclamen mite, Phytonemus pallidus (Acari: Tarsonemidae), in strawberry and comparison of sampling methods
The Canadian Entomologist 154 (1 - e33)
Abstract: Cyclamen mite, Phytonemus pallidus (Banks) (Acari: Tarsonemidae), is a pest of strawberry, Fragaria × ananassa Duchesne (Rosaceae), that injures new growth, resulting in damage to leaves and fruit. The primary source of cyclamen mite in strawberry is infested planting material, and damaged plants tend to occur in small, isolated patches in perennial production systems. In the present study, we determined through repeated sampling of strawberry plants in Ontario and Saskatchewan, Canada whether relative cyclamen mite population levels were stable in commercial fields and whether overwintering and field renovation (mowing) affected populations. In Ontario, cyclamen mite counts were significantly correlated for 66% (10 of 15) of the paired comparisons from six sampling dates in more than one year, indicating a relatively stable distribution of cyclamen mite patches in strawberry fields. Winter caused high mortality (100 times fewer mites in spring than fall) and mowing caused some mortality (10 times fewer mites post- than pre-mow). We found that more cyclamen mite motiles were extracted from plant material stored in ethanol and triple-washed than were extracted using Berlese funnels, although counts from leaves were correlated between methods. No cyclamen mites were found in Saskatchewan. Knowing that cyclamen mite patches are local and spread is negligible will facilitate targeted applications of controls.
(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): Justin M. Renkema, Chrystel Y. Olivier

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
surveys/sampling/distribution
population dynamics/ epidemiology

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Phytonemus pallidus	Strawberry (Fragaria)	Canada (east)
	Phytonemus pallidus	Strawberry (Fragaria)	Canada (west)