Abstract

MUNOZ, Karen et al. Feeding preferences of the mite Balaustium sp. under controlled conditions  . Agron. colomb. [online]. 2009, vol.27, n.1, pp.95-103. ISSN 0120-9965.

The mite Balaustium sp. is native of the Bogotá Plateau, and a natural enemy of different pests arthropods. With the aim of evaluating its prey preferences we placed separate individuals of its three motile stages in experimental units containing rose leaf lets and different prey samples. Prey consumption was recorded for eggs, nymphs and adults of Trialeurodes vaporariorum and Tetranychus urticae, and for first and second instar larvae and adults of Frankliniella occidentalis. Although the mites fed mostly on initial stages of their prey, adults of Trialeurodes vaporariorum were seen to be easily preyed by adult predators. The larvae consumed 54% of the offered eggs of Tetranychus urticae, which were their preferred prey. The deutonymphs chose similar proportions of Trialeurodes vaporariorum (53.87%) and Tetranychus urticae (49.7%) eggs. Adult predators fed more abundantly on eggs of Trialeurodes vaporariorum (58.8%).

Keywords : natural enemy; biological control of pests; Trialeurodes vaporariorum; Frankliniella occidentalis; Tetranychus urticae.

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