Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Insects and Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #291460
Title: Influence of diet conditions on predation response of a predatory mite to a polyphagous insect pest

Author
item XIAO, YINGFANG - University Of Florida
item OSBORNE, LANCE - University Of Florida
item McKenzie, Cindy
item CHEN, JIANJUN - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Florida Scientist
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/11/2013
Publication Date: 3/8/2013
Citation: Xiao, .Y., Osborne, .L., McKenzie, C.L., Chen, J.J. 2013. Influence of diet conditions on predation response of a predatory mite to a polyphagous insect pest. In: Proceedings of Florida Scientist. 76:16-17.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), an invasive polyphagous species, is an economically important pest. A modified standard petri dish assay method was employed to examine the functional response and predation capacity of predatory mites (Amblyseius swirskii Anthias-Henriot) when reared on different diets. This study provided useful information on whether predatory mites had the same or similar predation rates on chilli thrips, irrespective of the pre-exposure diets (ornamental pepper banker plant, mixed pollen(peach and cattail), or sugar mites (prey-based). Logistic regression analysis suggested Type II (convex) functional responses of A.swirskii for all three diets. Based on the estimates of the handling time and the attack rates, A. swirskii reared from the three different diets had similar predation capacities (400-450 nymphs over 15 days). Based on two experiments, female A.swirskii from the three different diets had similar maximum daily predation rates on chilli thrips with an average of 35-43 nymphs / day. Findings from this study could help to develop better artificial diets for biological control agents for employment against multiple pests in vegetable and greenhouse production.