Systematic & Applied Acarology ISSN 1362-1971 An international journal of the Systematic and Applied Acarology Society, published since 1996 [Aims] [Editors] [Content] [Subscriptions] [Contact details] [Society Homepage]

Systematic & Applied Acarology (2003) 8, 39-48

Identification and evaluation of potential predators of the citrus rust mite, Phyllocoptruta oleivora, in Israel

ERIC PALEVSKY¹, YAEL ARGOV², TSLILA BEN DAVID³ & URI GERSON⁴

1 Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, POB 6 Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel. Email: palevsky@volcani.agri.gov.il

2 Israel Cohen Institute for Biological Control, Citrus Marketing Board of Israel, POB 80 Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel.

3 Extension service, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Developement, Central Region, 35 Shimoni St., Hadera, 38364, Israel.

4 Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, POB 12, Rehovot 76100, Israel.

Abstract

Damage caused by citrus rust mite (CRM), Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Ashmead), is usually negligible in minimally to unsprayed isolated groves located in the central coastal plain of Israel. Assuming that resident natural enemies were responsible for this situation, we monitored the pest’s potential predators in five unsprayed citrus plots, and concurrently determined their feeding habits in the laboratory. In the field Iphiseius degenerans (Berlese) and Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot were the main predators found, the former being dominant during the critical winter and spring months, the period of low pest populations. In the laboratory, when solely CRM was offered, the decline in pest numbers was similar in leaf arenas containing either phytoseiid or the stigmaeid Agistemus cyprius Gonzalez. Only I. degenerans, however, seemed to kill fewer CRM in the presence of pollen. While the cessation of pesticide applications during two years was insufficient for reducing CRM populations, observations suggest that a three year break from broad spectrum pesticides would be the turning point for the reestablishment of I. degenerans, the postulated more important predator. Our field and laboratory data suggest that a complex of indigenous, generalist predators could be responsible for the control of CRM in isolated, unsprayed citrus groves on the central coastal plain of Israel.

Key words: Acari, Eriophyidae, Phytoseiidae, Stigmaeidae, citrus rust mite, unsprayed citrus, Iphiseius degenerans, Amblyseius swirskii, Agistemus cyprius

---

Copyright 1999-2003 Systematic and Applied Acarology Society
Last updated 20 Aug. 2003
Questions about this page should be directed to webmaster
 Natural History Museum is acknowledged for hosting these pages. Please read the Disclaimer.