Abstract

ARGUELLES R, ANGÉLICA et al. Interaction Between Two Predator Mites of Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acariformes: Tetranychidae) in Laboratory. Acta biol.Colomb. [online]. 2013, vol.18, n.1, pp.137-148. ISSN 0120-548X.

Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) is an important pest of ornamental crops. A species of predatory mite used for its control is Neoseiulus californicus and Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae). This research proposes the use of joint releases of the two cited predators for the control of the pest. Several situations leading to interaction were evaluated: High density of one predator and low density of the other one, being the prey present or absent. The scenario with predators in equal densities and in presence of the prey was also evaluated. When a predator is in higher density and the prey present, the predator with the lower density increases the interference with the comsumption of preys by the predator with higher density. On the other hand, when the comsumption of T. urticae reduces, intraguild predation increases. P. persimilis shows intraguild predation behaviour when T. urticae is absent and N. californicus is present, consuming all developmental stages of its conspecific. Instead, N. californicus only feed on conspecific larvae, when the fitofagous was absent and P. persimilis was present. When the two predators were present in the same assemblage and with the same population density, the quantity of T. urticae consumed by both of them was not higher than the consumed one when each predator was present in separate way.

Keywords : biological control; phytoseiid; intraguild.

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