title: Insight into the feeding behavior of predatory mites on Beauveria bassiana, an arthropod pathogen.
abstract: Interactions between fungal entomopathogens and pest predators are particularly relevant in control of agricultural insect pests. In a laboratory study, we confirmed that the predatory mite, Neoseiulus barkeri, exhibited feeding behavior on the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana conidia through DNA extracts. Using transmission electron microscopy, we determined that the majority of conidia found in the mite gut tended to dissolve within 24 h post ingestion, suggesting that the conidia had probably lost their viability. To our knowledge this is the first report of feeding behavior of phytoseiid mites on entomopathogenic fungus. The findings expand our knowledge of fungus-predator interactions.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shengyong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Shanxi Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Agriculture, Institute of Plant Protection, Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030031, P.R.China.
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xuenong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhongren
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D052982:Beauveria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000032:analysis*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008925:Mites / Q000382:microbiology*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal