Lawson-Balagbo L M, Gondim M G C, de Moraes G J, Hanna R, Schausberger P
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Biological Control Centre for Africa, 08 BP 0932, Cotonou, Benin.
Exp Appl Acarol. 2007;43(1):49-61. doi: 10.1007/s10493-007-9101-2. Epub 2007 Sep 8.
The eriophyoid mite Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Eriophyidae), commonly called the coconut mite, is a key pest of coconut fruits. Surveys conducted on coconut palms in Brazil revealed the predatory mites Neoseiulus paspalivorus DeLeon (Phytoseiidae) and Proctolaelaps bickleyi Bram (Ascidae) as the most commonly associated natural enemies of A. guerreronis on coconut fruits. However, virtually nothing is known about the life history of these two predators. We conducted laboratory experiments at 25 +/- 0.1 degrees C, 70-90% RH and 12:12 h L:D photoperiod to determine the life history characteristics of the two predatory mites when feeding on A. guerreronis and other potential food sources present on coconut fruits such as Steneotarsonemus furcatus DeLeon (Tarsonemidae), coconut pollen and the fungus Rhizopus cf. stolonifer Lind (Mucoraceae). In addition, the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Tetranychidae) was tested for its suitability as prey. Both predators, N. paspalivorus and P. bickleyi, thrived on A. guerreronis as primary food source resulting in shorter developmental time (5.6 and 4.4 days, respectively), higher oviposition rate (1.7 and 7.0 eggs/female/day, respectively) and higher intrinsic rate of increase (0.232 and 0.489 per female/day, respectively) than on any other diet but were unable to develop or lay eggs when fed T. urticae. Coconut pollen and S. furcatus were adequate alternative food sources for N. paspalivorus and Rhizopus for P. bickleyi. We discuss the relevance of our findings for natural and biological control of the coconut mite A. guerreronis.
瘿螨科的椰刺瘿螨Aceria guerreronis Keifer，通常被称为椰子螨，是椰子果实的主要害虫。在巴西对椰树进行的调查显示，捕食螨类的巴氏新小绥螨Neoseiulus paspalivorus DeLeon（植绥螨科）和比氏原厉螨Proctolaelaps bickleyi Bram（厉螨科）是椰子果实上与椰刺瘿螨最常相伴的天敌。然而，对于这两种捕食者的生活史几乎一无所知。我们在25±0.1℃、相对湿度70 - 90%以及12:12小时光暗周期的条件下进行了实验室实验，以确定这两种捕食螨以椰刺瘿螨以及椰子果实上其他潜在食物来源（如叉足狭跗线螨Steneotarsonemus furcatus DeLeon（跗线螨科）、椰子花粉和匐枝根霉Rhizopus cf. stolonifer Lind（毛霉科））为食时的生活史特征。此外，还测试了二斑叶螨Tetranychus urticae Koch（叶螨科）作为猎物的适宜性。两种捕食螨，即巴氏新小绥螨和比氏原厉螨，以椰刺瘿螨作为主要食物来源时生长良好，与以任何其他食物为食相比，发育时间更短（分别为5.6天和4.4天）、产卵率更高（分别为1.7和7.0粒卵/雌虫/天）以及内禀增长率更高（分别为0.232和0.489/雌虫/天），但以二斑叶螨为食时无法发育或产卵。椰子花粉和叉足狭跗线螨是巴氏新小绥螨的合适替代食物来源，而根霉是比氏原厉螨的合适替代食物来源。我们讨论了这些发现对于椰刺瘿螨的自然控制和生物防治的相关性。
