Survey of natural enemies of spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) in citrus orchards in eastern Spain

Field surveys were conducted from 2004 to 2007 to determine the species composition and relative abundance of natural enemies associated with colonies of either the citrus red mite, Panonychus citri , or the two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae , in Valencian citrus orchards (eastern Spain)....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Experimental & applied acarology 2009, Vol.47 (1), p.49-61
Main Authors: Abad-Moyano, Raquel, Pina, Tatiana, Dembilio, Óscar, Ferragut, Francisco, Urbaneja, Alberto
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acari
Animal Ecology
Animal Genetics and Genomics
Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography
Animals
Araneae
Biological control
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Citrus
Entomology
Female
Fruits
Life Sciences
Mite Infestations - prevention & control
Mites
Orchards
Panonychus citri
Pest Control, Biological
Plant Diseases - parasitology
Plant Leaves - parasitology
Predators
Relative abundance
Seasons
Spain
Species composition
Tetranychidae
Tetranychidae - parasitology
Tetranychus urticae
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Summary:Field surveys were conducted from 2004 to 2007 to determine the species composition and relative abundance of natural enemies associated with colonies of either the citrus red mite, Panonychus citri , or the two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae , in Valencian citrus orchards (eastern Spain). Fourteen species were recorded, six phytoseiid mites and eight insect predators. Two of them are reported for the first time on citrus in Spain and two more are first reports as predators associated with T. urticae . The community of predators associated with T. urticae and P. citri was almost identical, and the Morisita–Horn index of similarity between both natural enemy complexes was close to one, suggesting that predators forage on both pest species. Quantifying the presence of many known spider mites predators in Valencian citrus orchards is an important first step towards spider mite control. A challenge for future studies will be to establish conservation and/or augmentation management strategies for these predators, especially to improve T. urticae biological control .
ISSN:0168-8162
1572-9702
DOI:10.1007/s10493-008-9193-3