Effect of Pollens of Various Ornamental Pepper Cultivars on the Development and Reproduction of Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Authors

  • Vivek Kumar Mid-Florida Research & Education Center, University of Florida, 2725 Binion Rd., Apopka, FL 32703
  • Vitalis W. Wekesa Department of Biological Science and Technology, Technical University of Kenya, P.O Box 52428-00200, Nairobi
  • Pasco B. Avery University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Indian River Research and Education Center, 2199 South Rock Road, Fort Pierce, FL 34945
  • Charles A. Powell University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Indian River Research and Education Center, 2199 South Rock Road, Fort Pierce, FL 34945
  • Cindy L. McKenzie U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Fort Pierce, FL, 34945
  • Lance S. Osborne Mid-Florida Research & Education Center, University of Florida, 2725 Binion Rd., Apopka, FL 32703

Keywords:

chilli thrips, banker plants, phytoseiid mites, biological control

Abstract

Summarized from a presentation and discussions at the “Thrips: small players with big damage” Symposium at the Annual Meeting of the Florida Entomological Society, 16 July 2013, Naples, Florida.

 

The rationale behind the current study was to assess if the commercially available generalist phytoseiid mite, Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae), can survive and reproduce when fed on pollen from ornamental pepper (Capiscum annum L.; Solanales: Solanaceae). Results from this study will help in the selection of ornamental pepper cultivars as candidate banker plants for establishment of A. swirskii in ornamental nurseries. To determine the effect of different types of pepper pollen on survival and multiplication ability of mites; their longevity, daily rate of oviposition and total egg deposition was assessed. Amblyseius swirskii was reared on pollen collected from 4 ornamental pepper cultivars namely ‘Red Missile’, ‘Masquerade’, ‘Black Pearl’ and ‘Explosive Ember’. Amblyseius swirskii was able to survive, develop and oviposit when fed with pollens of all the 4 ornamental pepper cultivars and the 2 standard controls i.e., commercially available olive pollen Olea europaea L. (Lamiales: Oleaceae) and Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). No significant differences were observed among the various diet treatments for the following biological parameters: mean duration from larvae to adult death (22.8-23.7 days), duration from larvae to eggs (11.8-12.5 days) and adult longevity (12.4-13.1 days). However, for mites fed on pollen the highest daily rate of oviposition (~1.07 eggs/female/day) and total oviposition (~10.23 eggs/female) was recorded on the ‘Red Missile’. Outcome of this study can boost the management strategies being used against S. dorsalis and other pest species affecting ornamental plants in Florida.

 

La lógica detrás de este estudio fue evaluar si el ácaro fitoseido depredador generalista, Amblyseius swirskii (Athias - Henriot), disponible comercialmente, puede sobrevivir y reproducirse cuando se alimenta de polen de pimienta ornamental (Capsicum annuum L.; Solanales: Solanaceae). Para determinar el efecto de polen sobre la sobrevivencia y la capacidad de multiplicación de los ácaros; se evaluó su longevidad, tasa de oviposición diaria y la deposición total de huevos. Amblyseius swirskii fue criado en el polen recolectado de los siguientes 4 cultivares de pimienta ornamental, ‘Misile Rojo ‘, ‘Masquerade ‘, ‘Perla Negro’ y ‘Ember Explosivo’ los cuales son candidatos de plantas reservorias potenciales en viveros ornamentales. Amblyseius swirskii fue capaz de sobrevivir, desarrollar y poner huevos en todos los polen probados de cultivares de pimiento ornamental y los 2 controles estándar (polen de olivo disponibles comercialmente y Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood). No se observaron diferencias significativas entre los diferentes tratamientos dietéticos para los siguientes parámetros biológicos: el promedio de longevidad (22.8 a 23.7 días), la duración de huevos a larvas (11.8 a 12.5 días) y la duración del estadio adulto (12.4 a 13.1 días). Sin embargo, para los ácaros alimentados con polen, la mayor tasa de la oviposición diaria (~ 1.07 huevos/hembra/día) y de la oviposición total (~ 10.23 huevos/hembra) se registró en el ‘Misile Rojo’. Los resultados de este estudio ayudarán en la selección de candidatos de cultivares de pimiento como plantas reservorias para el establecimiento de A. swirskii en viveros ornamentales y estos resultados pueden impulsar las estrategias de manejo que se utilizan contra S. dorsalis y otras especies plaga.

 

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Published

2014-06-20

Issue

Vol. 97, No. 2 (June 2014)

Section

Research Papers

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