Phytoseiid predators as potential biological control agents for Bemisia tabaci

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Entomology
• Biological Control
• Acarology

Background:

• Phytoseiidae mites are natural predators of whiteflies, including the resistant Bemisia tabaci, a significant greenhouse pest.
• Bemisia tabaci exhibits high resistance to chemical insecticides, necessitating alternative control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate five co-occurring predatory mite species from the Middle East as potential biological control agents for Bemisia tabaci.
• To assess the life-history traits of these predatory mites when feeding on whiteflies and their ability to utilize alternative food sources.

Main Methods:

• Collected five predatory mite species: Typhlodromus athiasae, Neoseiulus barkeri, Typhlodromips swirskii, Euseius scutalis, and Phytoseius finitimus.
• Measured life-history traits, specifically the intrinsic rate of increase (rm), of each mite species when feeding on whiteflies.
• Assessed the reproductive capacity of the predatory mites on an alternative food source: broad bean pollen.

Main Results:

• The intrinsic rates of increase (rm) for the predatory mites ranged from 0.131 to 0.215 per day.
• Euseius scutalis exhibited the highest intrinsic rate of increase among the tested species.
• All evaluated predatory mite species successfully survived and reproduced on a diet of broad bean pollen.

Conclusions:

• Several Phytoseiidae mite species demonstrate potential for biological control of Bemisia tabaci populations.
• Euseius scutalis shows particular promise due to its high intrinsic rate of increase.
• The ability of these mites to reproduce on broad bean pollen facilitates mass rearing and enhances their persistence in agricultural settings.