Effectiveness of Two Predatory Mite Species (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in Controlling Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae)

Authors

  • Xiaoduan Fang South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 723 Xingke Road, Guangzhou 510650 Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Agriculture, Guangdong Entomological Institute, 105 Xingang West Road, Guangzhou 510260 Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquanlu, Beijing 100049
  • Huilin Lu Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Agriculture, Guangdong Entomological Institute, 105 Xingang West Road, Guangzhou 510260
  • Gecheng Ouyang Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Agriculture, Guangdong Entomological Institute, 105 Xingang West Road, Guangzhou 510260
  • Yulu Xia National Science Foundation Center for Integrated Pest Management, North Carolina State University, 1730 Varsity Dr. Suite 110, Raleigh, NC 27606
  • Mingfang Guo Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Agriculture, Guangdong Entomological Institute, 105 Xingang West Road, Guangzhou 510260
  • Weinan Wu Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Agriculture, Guangdong Entomological Institute, 105 Xingang West Road, Guangzhou 510260

Keywords:

huanglongbing, Neoseiulus cucumeris, Neoseiulus barkeri, functional and numerical response, biological control

Abstract

The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae), is the insect vector of huanglongbing (HLB), the most devastating citrus disease in the world. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of two species of commercially available predatory mites, Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) and N. barkeri (Hughes) (Acari: Phytoseiidae), against D. citri. The predatory mites were evaluated by (1) determining their prey stage preference under no-choice conditions by providing eggs, 1st and 2nd instar nymphs; (2) determining the functional and numerical responses of the predators to varying densities of eggs (from 2 to 32/leaf disk); and (3) evaluating the control effect of N. cucumeris on D. citri on caged trees of Citrus reticulata Blanco in the field, using 1 to 8 sachets (900 ± 100 adult mites per sachet) per tree. The results indicated that N. cucumeris consumed eggs of D. citri only, whereas N. barkeri consumed eggs and 1st instar nymphs. Both predators displayed a Type III functional response (sigmoid). A single female adult of N. cucumeris consumed significantly more D. citri eggs than N. barkeri. N. cucumeris could lay eggs when feeding exclusively on D. citri eggs. The field experiment showed that control effect on D. citri was significantly correlated with the number of N. cucumeris released. Two or more sachets released per tree could achieve significant control at an initial density of 30 adult D. citri (male: female = 1:1) per tree. Improvement of field control efficacy of N. cucumeris on D. citri is discussed.

 

El psillido asiatico de los citricos, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae), es el insecto vector de huanglongbing (HLB), la enfermedad mas devastadora de los citricos en el mundo. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la eficacia de dos especies de acaros depredadores disponibles comercialmente, Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) y N. barkeri (Hughes) (Acari: Phytoseiidae), contra D. citri. Los acaros depredadores fueron evaluados mediante (1) la determinacion de su preferencia por estadios de desarrollo de la presa en condiciones de no seleccion, al proveer huevos y ninfas de 1er y 2do instar; (2) al determinar las respuestas funcionales y numericas de los depredadores a densidades variables de huevos (de 2 a 32); y (3) al evaluar el control ejercido por N. cucumeris sobre D. citri en arboles de Citrus reticulata Blanco en jaulas bajo condiciones de campo, liberando 1 a 8 bolsas con acaros por arbol (900 ± 100 acaros adultos por bolsa). Los resultados indicaron que N. cucumeris consume solamente huevos de D. citri, mientras que N. barkeri consume huevos y ninfas de 1er instar. Los dos depredadores mostraron una respuesta funcional Tipo III (sigmoide). Las hembras adultas de N. cucumeris mostraron un mayor consumo de huevos de D. citri que N. barkeri. N. cucumeris puede ovipositar cuando se alimenta exclusivamente de huevos de D. citri. El experimento en campo mostro que el nivel de control esta significativamente correlacionado con el numero de N. cucumeris liberados. La liberacion de dos o mas bolsas de acaros por arbol pueden alcanzar un control significativo cuando la densidad inicial de D. citri es de 30 adultos (macho: hembra = 1: 1) por arbol. El incremento del control de N. cucumeris sobre D. citri en campo es discutido.

 

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Published

2014-02-23

Issue

Vol. 96, No. 4 (December 2013)

Section

Research Papers

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