Thomas H Q, Zalom F G, Nicola N L
Department of Entomology, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Bull Entomol Res. 2011 Oct;101(5):499-504. doi: 10.1017/S0007485310000404. Epub 2010 Nov 11.
Blattisocius keegani (Fox) is a predatory mite in the family Ascidae (Acari), noted for potential biological control of Coleopteran stored product pests. Performance of B. keegani on eggs of navel orangeworm, Amyelois transitella Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), was investigated. Mites completed development from egg to adult in 9.2±0.22 days at 25°C and 50-60% relative humidity, and in 6.33±0.29 days at 32.2°C, 30% relative humidity. Mites provisioned with three or five eggs consumed a median of 1.25 to 1.5 eggs, with a maximum of three eggs consumed over 24 h. Regression analyses indicated egg-laying by B. keegani was significantly correlated with the number of A. transitella eggs consumed, and female mites laid an average of 5.82±0.44 eggs over 72 h. Blattisocius keegani, developed on fresh and frozen eggs, laid significantly more eggs when provided with fresh eggs (F3,26=6.16, P=0.0026) and were able to develop on frozen Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs as an alternative host. Mites were equally fecund when fed eggs stored at 0° or -20°C. Provisioning of adult moth bodies in addition to egg prey items increased mite fecundity, although it was demonstrated that B. keegani are phoretic on adult moths as well. The results are the first experimental evidence of B. keegani as a predator of Lepidopteran eggs, as a phoretic species, and of their potential for biological control of navel orangeworm.
基氏盲走螨（Blattisocius keegani (Fox)）是Ascidae科（蜱螨亚纲）的一种捕食性螨类，因其对鞘翅目仓储害虫具有潜在的生物防治作用而受到关注。本研究调查了基氏盲走螨对脐橙螟（Amyelois transitella Walker，鳞翅目：螟蛾科）卵的捕食性能。在25℃、相对湿度50 - 60%的条件下，螨从卵发育至成虫需9.2±0.22天；在32.2℃、相对湿度30%的条件下，需6.33±0.29天。供给三只或五只卵时，螨平均消耗1.25至1.5只卵，在24小时内最多消耗三只卵。回归分析表明，基氏盲走螨的产卵量与所消耗的脐橙螟卵数量显著相关，雌螨在72小时内平均产卵5.82±0.44枚。以新鲜卵和冷冻卵饲养的基氏盲走螨，在提供新鲜卵时产卵量显著增加（F3,26 = 6.16，P = 0.0026），并且能够以冷冻的地中海粉螟（Ephestia kuehniella Zeller，鳞翅目：螟蛾科）卵作为替代寄主进行发育。当饲喂储存在0℃或 - 20℃的卵时，螨的繁殖力相同。除了提供卵猎物外，供给成虫蛾体可提高螨的繁殖力，不过已证明基氏盲走螨也会附着在成虫蛾体上。这些结果首次通过实验证明了基氏盲走螨是鳞翅目昆虫卵的捕食者、附着性物种，以及其对脐橙螟具有生物防治潜力。
