Lawson-Balagbo L M, Gondim M G C, de Moraes G J, Hanna R, Schausberger P
Department of Applied Plant Sciences and Plant Biotechnology, Institute of Plant Protection, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Peter Jordanstrasse 82, 1190, Vienna, Austria.
Exp Appl Acarol. 2008 Jun;45(1-2):1-13. doi: 10.1007/s10493-008-9156-8. Epub 2008 May 16.
The eriophyid mite Aceria guerreronis occurs in most coconut growing regions of the world and causes enormous damage to coconut fruits. The concealed environment of the fruit perianth under which the mite resides renders its control extremely difficult. Recent studies suggest that biological control could mitigate the problems caused by this pest. Neoseiulus paspalivorus and Proctolaelaps bickleyi are two of the most frequently found predatory mites associated with A. guerreronis on coconut fruits. Regarding biological control, the former has an advantage in invading the tight areas under the coconut fruit perianth while the latter is more voracious on the pest mites and has a higher reproductive capacity. Based on the idea of the combined use/release of both predators on coconut fruits, we studied their compatibility in spatial niche use and intraguild predation (IGP). Spatial niche use on coconut fruits was examined on artificial arenas mimicking the area under the coconut fruit perianth and the open fruit surface. Both N. paspalivorus and P. bickleyi preferentially resided and oviposited inside the tight artificial chamber. Oviposition rate of P. bickleyi and residence time of N. paspalivorus inside the chamber were reduced in the presence of a conspecific female. Residence of N. paspalivorus inside the chamber was also influenced by the presence of P. bickleyi. Both N. paspalivorus and P. bickleyi preyed upon each other with relatively moderate IGP rates of adult females on larvae but neither species yielded nutritional benefits from IGP in terms of adult survival and oviposition. We discuss the relevance of our findings for a hypothetic combined use of both predators in biological control of A. guerreronis.
瘿螨科的椰皱螨（Aceria guerreronis）分布于世界上大多数椰子种植区，对椰子果实造成巨大损害。螨类栖息的果实花被所处的隐蔽环境使其防治极为困难。最近的研究表明，生物防治可以减轻这种害虫造成的问题。巴氏新小绥螨（Neoseiulus paspalivorus）和比氏原厉螨（Proctolaelaps bickleyi）是在椰子果实上与椰皱螨相关的最常见的两种捕食螨。关于生物防治，前者在侵入椰子果实花被下的狭窄区域方面具有优势，而后者对害螨的捕食能力更强，繁殖能力也更高。基于在椰子果实上联合使用/释放这两种捕食者的想法，我们研究了它们在空间生态位利用和集团内捕食（IGP）方面的兼容性。在模仿椰子果实花被下区域和开放果实表面的人工试验场中，研究了它们在椰子果实上的空间生态位利用情况。巴氏新小绥螨和比氏原厉螨都优先栖息和产卵于狭窄的人工试验室内。在有同种雌螨存在的情况下，比氏原厉螨的产卵率和巴氏新小绥螨在试验室内的停留时间会降低。巴氏新小绥螨在试验室内的停留也受到比氏原厉螨存在的影响。巴氏新小绥螨和比氏原厉螨都会相互捕食，成年雌螨对幼虫的集团内捕食率相对适中，但就成年个体的存活和产卵而言，两种螨都没有从集团内捕食中获得营养益处。我们讨论了我们的研究结果对于在椰皱螨生物防治中联合使用这两种捕食者的假设的相关性。
