A Modified Leaf Arena Technique for Rearing Phytoseiid or Tetranychid Mites for Biological Studies
Abstract
A new procedure for rearing mites in the families Phytoseiidae or Tetranychidae is described. The rearing unit provides air exchange and a stable level of humidity (75-85% RH) in the microenvironment at 1 cm height. At 26@*C or less, mature citrus leaves were maintained in the unit up to 8 weeks. Pollen of the ice plant, Malephora crocea (Jacq.) was usable for 10 to 15 days as food for Euseius mesembrinus (Dean) at 18 to 30@*C. The method requires low maintenance, is simple, relatively inexpensive, and allows monitoring of mite behavior or development through the clear plastic lid.Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright for any article published in Florida Entomologist is held by the author(s) of the article. Florida Entomologist is an open access journal. Florida Entomologist follows terms of the Creative Commons, Attribution Non-Commercial License (cc by-nc). By submitting and publishing articles in Florida Entomologist, authors grant the FOJ and Florida Entomologist's host institutions permission to make the article available through Internet posting and electronic dissemination, and to otherwise archive the information contained both electronically and in a hard printed version. When used, information and images obtained from articles must be referenced and cited appropriately. Articles may be reproduced for personal, educational, or archival purposes, or any non-commercial use. Permission should be sought from the author(s) for multiple, non-commercial reproduction. Written permission from the author(s) is required for any commercial reproduction.
