A new mite IPM strategy: predator avoidance behaviour resulting from the synergetic effects of predator release and acaricide-treated nets
2026 - Volume: 66 Issue: Suppl pages: 37
https://doi.org/10.24349/kr59-n17u
ICA 2026 - XVII International Congress of Acarology, 20-24 July 2026, Montpellier
Keywords
Solanum scabrum
Acaricide treated net
Phytoseiulus longipes
Tetranychus evansi
Tetranychus urticae
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an acaricide treated net in combination with predatory mite Phytoseiulus longipes for the control of Tetranychus evansi and Tetranychus urticae on African Nightshade, Solanum scabrumin an integrated pest management strategy. T. evansi density, day and night cycles, and presence of P. longipes, on the within-plant migration and distribution of T. evansi on African nightshade were investigated. Two trials of T. evansi and T. urticae were set concurrently, five treatments were evaluated in the greenhouse: (T1) unprotected control as a negative control, (T2) Dicofol treated net only, (T3) P. longipes release only, (T4) Dicofol treated net combined with P. longipes release, and (T5) direct dicofol spray as a positive control, in 5 different blocks with each block composed of 30 plants (6 per treatment) replicated five times in a completely randomized block design (CRBC). The results showed that acaricide-treated net alone reduced more effectively densities of T. urticae than T. evansi. We observed the contrary for the release of the predatory mite Phytoseiulus longipes. This difference could be explained by the specific dispersion strategies of the spider mite pests, as T. evansi is gregarious and T. urticae dispersed rapidly. Joint application of both techniques resulted in a synergetic effect that decreased T. evansi and T. urticaespider mite densities close to zero. The synergetic effect could be explained by the predator avoidance behaviour of the prey spider mites, resulting in higher prey trapping and killing rates on the acaricide-treated nets and meanwhile P. longipes fed on the spider mite eggs. These techniques are profitable for smallholder farmers as they are not expensive and avoid residues on the crop with great potential for developing an IPM strategy using the acaricide treated net, Predatory mite and acaricides.
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