Prey preference of the predatory mite, Amblyseius swirskii between first instar western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis and nymphs of the twospotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae.
The prey preference of polyphagous predators plays an important role in suppressing different species of pest insects. In this study the prey preference of the predatory mite, Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) was examined between nymphs of the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) and first instar larvae of the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), as well as between active and chrysalis spider mite protonymphs and active and chrysalis spider mite deutonymphs. The study was done in the laboratory on bean leaf discs at 25 ± 1° C and 70 ± 5% RH. Amblyseius swirskii had a clear preference for thrips compared to both spider mite protonymphs and deutonymphs. About twice as many thrips as spider mites were consumed. Amblyseius swirskii did not show a preference between active and chrysalis stages of spider mites.
Key Laboratory for biological Control of Ministry of Agiculture, Institute of Plant Proctection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 2 West Yuanmingyuan Road, Beijing 100193, PR Chinaction, Chinese Academy of China. xuxn_99@yahoo.com
Xuenong
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Xu
Annie
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Enkegaard
D000818:Animals; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005518:Food Preferences; D007313:Insecta; D008925:Mites / Q000502:physiology*; D009758:Nymph; D011235:Predatory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric