New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science abstracts
Movement of Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on the
leaves of greenhouse carnations and other cut flowers
P. J. WORKMAN
N. A. MARTIN
New Zealand Institute for Crop & Food
Research Limited
Private Bag 92 169
Auckland, New Zealand
email:workmanp@crop.cri.nz
Abstract The behaviour and mobility of the predatory mite
Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) was
observed on vertically orientated leaves of carnations (
Dianthus
caryophillus) and compared to five other greenhouse plants: cymbidium
orchids (
Cymbidium spp.), roses (
Rosa spp.), French beans
(
Phaseolus vulgaris), gypsophila (
Gypsophila paniculata), and
thalictrum (
Thalictrum delavayi).
P. persimilis had difficulty
maintaining traction on carnation leaves, with only two out of 15 able to
complete a vertical 25 mm test run. It was able to adhere to the remaining
five plant species but the mean time to complete the prescribed distance ranged
from 12.8 s on cymbidium orchid to 65.0 s on thalictrum. Scanning electron
micrographs showed the waxy layer of the leaf cuticle of these plants varied
from highly ornamented, dense layers of wax filaments on carnations to smooth
surfaces on beans. It is suggested that the failure of
P. persimilis to
control two-spotted mite (
Tetranychus urticae Koch) (Acari:
Tetranychidae) on carnations is a result of its inability to maintain traction
on the waxy surface of the leaves and stems.
Keywords Phytoseiulus persimilis; Tetranychus
urticae; carnations; cymbidium orchids; roses; beans; gypsophila;
thalictrum; greenhouse crops; biological control; integrated pest management;
dispersal
H99030
Received 23 August 1999; accepted 5 January 2000
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (2112K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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