Astigmatid mites (Acari: Astigmata) as factitious prey for mass rearing Amblyseius largoensis (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Predatory mites, particularly those of the Phytoseiidae family, play a key role in sustainable pest management by reducing pest populations and minimizing reliance on chemical pesticides. Amblyseius largoensis (Muma) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is a generalist predator, with great potential for controlling noxious agricultural pests. However, large-scale rearing of A. largoensis remains a challenge due to the lack of an efficient mass-production system. This study aimed to select a factitious prey species from the order Astigmata that could support the mass-rearing of A. largoensis. Four Astigmata species (Carpoglyphus lactis L., Thyreophagus crasentiseta Barbosa, OConnor & Moraes, Tyrophagus putrescentiae Schrank, and Glycycometus aff. molitor Volgin & Akimov) were evaluated for their ability to sustain the predator's survival, development, and reproduction. Tetranychus urticae Koch, a well-established natural prey, was used as a control. Bioassays assessed the growth rates of A. largoensis when fed exclusively on each prey species. The results showed that C. lactis supported survival and reproduction rates comparable to T. urticae, with an intrinsic growth rate favorable for mass-rearing. The other prey proved unsuitable for A. largoensis mass-rearing. Additionally, C. lactis offers practical advantages as it is easy to rearing, thrives on simple and inexpensive food sources, and allows for continuous predator production. This study highlights the potential of C. lactis as a viable factitious prey for the large-scale production of A. largoensis, contributing to the diversification of biological control strategies. Future research should focus on optimizing rearing protocols and field evaluation to validate the effectiveness of A. largoensis as a biocontrol agent in tropical and subtropical regions.