Development and Oviposition of Six Native Phytoseiid Species (Acari: Phytoseiidae) Reared on Pink Citrus Rust Mite, Aculops pelekassi (Keifer) (Acari: Eriophyidae)

Abstract

To find candidate native phytoseiid species for the control of the pink citrus rust mite, Aculops pelekassi, the development and oviposition of six phytoseiid species, Amblyseius eharai, Euseius sojaensis, Neoseiulus californicus, Neoseiulus womersleyi, Phytoseius nipponicus and Typhlodromus vulgaris, reared on A. pelekassi were compared at 25°C, 16L: 8D. P. nipponicus was able to utilize A. pelekassi as food and almost all larvae developed into adults and most of the females oviposited well. However, A. pelekassi was inadequate food for the other phytoseiid species. Thus, P. nipponicus is expected to be a prospective candidate phytoseiid species for the control of A. pelekassi, if the method for the establishment of P. nipponicus populations on citrus trees will be developed.