Predation potential of three species of phytoseiids on Oligonychus ilicis (McGregor, 1917) (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Abstract

Some species of mites, that cause losses in coffee beans production and quality are among the organisms that attack  coffee plant (Coffea spp.). The Oligonychus ilicis (McGregor, 1917) (Acari: Tetranychidae), also known as coffee red spider mite, is one of the main phytophagous mites.. Mites belonging to the Phytoseiidae family are considered the most important among predatory mites. The objective of this work was to evaluate the predation potential of Iphiseiodes zuluagai Denmark & Muma, 1972; Euseius citrifolius Denmark & Muma, 1970, and Amblyseius herbicolus (Chant, 1959) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on the several developmental phases of O. ilicis. For each phytoseiid species, four bioassays were carried out, one for each developmental phase of O. ilicis (egg, larva, nymph, and adult). The experimental design was a randomized complet ylock, with ten repetitions, usins five treatments as following: control without predator, larva, nymph, and adult female and male (except for A. herbicolus) predators. Each replication consisted of an arena (a coffee leaf disk), where 25 O. ilicis mites and one predatory mite were placed, in independent experiments. After 24 hours, it was observed that the adult female phase of the predators was the most efficient in predation, followed by the nymph, male, and larva phases. Adult O. ilicis were the least predated of all of the developmental phases of the predatory mites, and the larvae were the preferred ones.