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Updated: Jul 31, 2026
08:53
Application of Two-spotted Spider Mite Tetranychus urticae for Plant-pest Interaction Studies
Published on: July 4, 2014
Diseases of mites
L P van der Geest1, S L Elliot, J A Breeuwer
1lnstitute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. geest@bio.uva.nl
Experimental & Applied Acarology
|February 24, 2001
Summary
This review explores mite diseases, focusing on fungal pathogens for biological control and viruses impacting citrus and peach mites. Research also covers bacteria like Wolbachia and Microsporidia in beneficial mites.
Area of Science:
- Acarology
- Pathology
- Biological Control
Background:
- Knowledge of mite diseases is limited but growing due to economic impacts.
- Research increasingly focuses on acaropathogens, particularly fungal agents affecting eriophyoid and spider mites.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of current research on mite diseases and pathogens.
- To highlight the role of various pathogens in regulating mite populations and their potential for biological control.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing studies on fungal, viral, bacterial, and microsporidian pathogens of mites.
- Discussion of research on intracellular organisms like Wolbachia and the effects of Bacillus thuringiensis.
Main Results:
- Fungal pathogens are key in regulating natural mite populations and are explored as commercial acaricides.
- Virus diseases in specific mites (citrus red mite, European red mite) impact populations but are not feasible for biological control.
- Intracellular bacteria (Wolbachia) and Microsporidia affect mite reproduction and populations, with Microsporidia impacting beneficial predatory mites.
Conclusions:
- Fungal pathogens show promise for biological control of pest mites.
- Viral pathogens have limited application potential for biological control.
- Microsporidia infections in beneficial mites can reduce their efficacy as biological control agents.
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