Ecology Institute AC, Xalapa, México, Mexico.
Federal University of Tocantins, Gurupi, Tocantins, Brazil.
J Econ Entomol. 2021 Jun 11;114(3):1104-1110. doi: 10.1093/jee/toab029.
Oligonychus punicae (Hirst) (Trombidiformes: Tetranychidae) is a common pest in Mexican avocado orchards. Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) is frequently found associated with avocado orchards in Mexico and may be an important aid for controlling O. punicae. Given the lack of information in the scientific literature, this study evaluated the predation and oviposition of N. californicus when fed O. punicae at different developmental stages in a no-choice experiment. We also assessed fluctuations in the population size of O. punicae and N. californicus in commercial avocado orchards; correlations among mite density and air temperature, humidity, and precipitation in commercial avocado orchards; and the correlations between prey and predator populations. The no-choice test revealed that N. californicus adult females fed on O. punicae of all developmental stages, with higher levels of predation being recorded for eggs, followed by larvae. The highest oviposition values of N. californicus females were observed when females were fed O. punicae eggs. In orchards, the populations of both mites increased between February and June. The populations peaked during the warmest months of the year, with O. punicae populations peaking between June and July and N. californicus peaking in August. In addition, the population size of N. californicus was significantly and positively correlated with rainfall, air temperature, and the population densities of O. punicae. Meanwhile, O. punicae population size was positively correlated with air temperature, and the population of its predator N. californicus.
桔全爪螨（Hirst）（蜱螨目：叶螨科）是墨西哥鳄梨果园中的一种常见害虫。加州新小绥螨（McGregor）（中气门目：植绥螨科）经常在墨西哥的鳄梨果园中发现，可能是控制桔全爪螨的重要辅助生物。鉴于科学文献中缺乏信息，本研究在非选择实验中评估了 N. californicus 在喂食不同发育阶段的 O. punicae 时的捕食和产卵情况。我们还评估了商业鳄梨果园中 O. punicae 和 N. californicus 种群数量的波动；商业鳄梨果园中螨密度与空气温度、湿度和降水之间的相关性；以及猎物和捕食者种群之间的相关性。非选择测试表明，N. californicus 成年雌螨可以取食所有发育阶段的 O. punicae，对卵的捕食水平较高，其次是幼虫。当雌性喂食 O. punicae 卵时，N. californicus 雌性的产卵量最高。在果园中，两种螨虫的种群数量在 2 月至 6 月之间增加。种群数量在一年中最温暖的月份达到峰值，其中 O. punicae 种群在 6 月至 7 月达到峰值，N. californicus 种群在 8 月达到峰值。此外，N. californicus 的种群大小与降雨量、空气温度和 O. punicae 的种群密度呈显著正相关。同时，O. punicae 的种群大小与空气温度呈正相关，而其捕食者 N. californicus 的种群大小也与空气温度呈正相关。
