Comparison of Efficiency of the Predatory Mite Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) Reared on Several Plant Pollens

Document Type : Research Article

Author

Maryam Rezaie

Zoology Research Department, Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran

10.22067/jpp.2026.96230.1260

Abstract

Introduction
The predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) is an effective predator for the control of many pests, especially in greenhouses. Evaluation of mass rearing of biological agents has several objectives and strategies, and predator quality control plays a key role in the use of these biological agents. Pollen can be used as an available food source for the rearing and mass production of phytoseiid mites. The nutritional value of pollen varies between plant species. In this study, the efficiency of the predatory mites reared on several plant pollens (corn, palm, sunflower, and walnut pollen) and different developmental stages of the storage mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acari: Acaridae) was investigated. Evaluate the effectiveness of the predatory mites, it is necessary to examine characteristics such as host preference, predation rate, and functional response.
 
Material & Methods
The female predatory mites N. californicus from the rearing colonies were placed on strawberry leaf discs (2 × 2 cm²) with 50-60 spider mite eggs and the number of spider mite eggs after 24 hours was counted. The predation rate of the predatory mites reared on tested pollen and storage mites for one, five, and 20 generations from Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Trtranychidae) eggs was compared. In another test, the predation rate of individuals reared on tested pollen from different life stages of the two-spotted spider mite was compared. The host preference of the populations of different life stages of the two-spotted spider mite were also investigated. The Manley method was used to determine the host preference of the predatory mite. The functional response of three-day old mated female from the rearing colonies feeding on densities of T. urticae eggs (2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 45, 60 and 70) was studied on strawberry leaves. These tests were conducted under laboratory condition (27±1˚C, 16L: 8D photoperiod and 70-80% RH).
 
Results & Discussion
The results showed that the duration of rearing of the predatory mite had no significant effect on the predation rate. The lowest predation rate of spider mite nymphs and adults was reported for individuals reared on sunflower pollen. Among prey life stages, adults in reared populations of N. californicus mites showed a greater preference for protonymphs, while no differences were observed between populations. The handling time among the tested populations was different, and the shortest time for the predatory mites reared on sunflower pollen and corn pollen. There is a significant difference in the predation rate of predatory mites on eggs, nymphs and adults of spider mites. The highest predation rate is on spider mites nymphs. The presence of pollen in the rearing containers has caused a significant difference in the predation rate of predatory mites on two-spotted spider mite eggs. The calculated Manley ß index of predatory mite populations on different life stages of spider mites is significant. The functional response of the predatory mite on sunflower pollen, palm pollen, walnut pollen populations exhibited type Π and on the spider mites and corn pollen populations exhibited type Ш. The Rogers equation was used to determine the statistics of attack coefficient (a, b) and handling time (T_h). The attack coefficient for the predatory mite N. californicus reared on sunflower pollen, palm pollen and walnut pollen was estimated to be 0.057±0.020, 0.180±0.017 and 0.077±0.023, respectively. The handling time and attack coefficient (b) for populations of predatory mites N. californicus reared on corn pollen and two-spotted spider mite eggs were estimated to be (1.360±0.220 h and 0.100±0.090) and (2.370±0.210 h and 0.170±0.010), respectively. Using the combined equation, the functional response statistics were compared and it was found that the handling time of predatory mites in different rearings was significantly different from each other. The shortest time for a predatory mite to reach prey is in mites reared on sunflower pollen and corn pollen.
 
Conclusion
The time to reach prey varies among the populations tested, and the shortest time for the predatory mites to reach prey is in mites reared on sunflower pollen and corn pollen. The use of walnut pollen and palm pollen in addition to different life stages of the storage mite T. putrescentiae is suitable for mass and semi-mass rearing of the predatory mite N. californicus. The efficiency of reared mites in terms of predation rate from preferred prey was also better in populations reared on walnut pollen or palm pollen with storage mites than in other cases studied, and their use is recommended for rearing predatory mites. The use of walnut and palm pollen with different life stages of the storage mite T. putrescentiae is suitable for mass and semi-mass rearing of N. californicus. The efficiency of reared mites in terms of predation rate from preferred prey was also better in populations reared on walnut pollen or palm pollen with storage mites than in other cases studied, and their use is recommended for rearing predatory mites.

Keywords

Functional response

Host preference

Mass rearing

Predation rate

Storage mite

Subjects

• pests

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Authors retain the copyright. This is an open access article distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0)

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