Thermal tolerance of the three species of predatory mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to enhance biological control of climate resilience in response to global warming
2026 - Volume: 66 Issue: Suppl pages: 91
https://doi.org/10.24349/v9gh-4um0
ICA 2026 - XVII International Congress of Acarology, 20-24 July 2026, Montpellier
Abstract
To improve the efficiency of biological control against invasive pests and adapt to current global warming conditions, this study evaluated the thermal resistance of Neoseiulus californicus, Amblyseius andersoni and N. longspinosus. Thermal tolerance of three predatory mite species, N.californicus, A.andersoni, and N. longspinosus, was evaluated under controlled laboratory conditions. Adult females were used in all experiments. For each species and each temperature exposure time combination, 24 adult females were tested as independent replicates. Mites were exposed to six temperature treatments: 25°C (control), 37.5°C, 40.0°C, 42.5°C, 45.0°C, and 47.0°C. For each temperature, individuals were subjected to eight exposure durations: 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, and 120 min. After exposure, predatory mite were transferred to standard rearing conditions at 25°C for recovery. Survival was assessed after the recovery period, and individuals were considered alive if they showed coordinated movement in response to gentle stimulation with a fine brush. High temperatures significantly affected the survival of predatory mites, revealing clear interspecific differences in thermal tolerance. The two commercially used species, N. californicus and A. andersoni, showed declines in survival at moderately high temperatures (37.5–42.5°C), with mortality increasing as exposure duration lengthened. These results suggest that the performance of these widely applied biological control agents may be constrained under intensify heat stress conditions associated with global warming. In contrast, the native Thai species N. longspinosus exhibited significantly higher thermal tolerance and maintained greater survival at elevated temperatures, although survival declined at extreme heat (47°C). Overall, these findings demonstrate that thermal sensitivity varies among the three species and is a critical factor influencing their survival and likely field performance as biological control agents in tropical and subtropical agroecosystems. As climate change intensifies thermal stress, reliance on heat-sensitive exotic species may reduce the stability and effectiveness of biological control programs. Strategic selection and mass-rearing of heat-tolerant native species, such a N. longspinosus, may enhance the climate resilience of integrated pest management systems and support sustainable pest management under global warming.
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