Amblyseius (Neoseiulus) californicus
The predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus has the characteristics of both specialized predatory mites of type II and universal predatory mites of type III. It prefers spider mites as food, but will also consume other types of mites, small insects and thrips. In cases of unavailability of victims, it is able to feed on plant pollen.
Neoseiulus californicus is used in most cases to control the population of spider mites, but indirectly controls other phytophagous mites on a wide range of crops. It is distributed worldwide, mainly in regions with temperate and subtropical climates.
Synonymy
Neoseiulus californicus has a very complex taxonomic history. It was first described in 1954 in California as Typhlodromus californicus. After 1954, it was transferred to the genus Amblyseius, and then to the genus Neoseiulus or Cydnodromus, and now Neoseiulus chilenensis (Dosse) is considered a synonym of Neoseiulus californicus.
Distribution
Natural populations of Neoseiulus californicus live in Argentina, Japan, Chile, South Africa, the USA, some regions of Europe and along the Mediterranean coast. Neoseiulus californicus has a large list of crops on which it lives, including fruit and citrus trees. They are also found on cassava, corn, grapes, strawberries, some vegetable crops and ornamental plants. For growth, development and activity, it needs a warm climate of 10-33C, but is able to tolerate low temperatures for short periods of time. For example, Neoseiulus californicus can survive winters in regions where temperatures can drop below zero at night. The predator can withstand a wide range of humidity (40-80%), but prefer humidity in the upper part of this range.
Description
Eggs of Neoseiulus californicus are oval, approximately 0.04 mm in diameter, and pale whitish. The larvae have only 3 pairs of legs, and they are translucent. Nymphs at both stages of development (protonymph and deutonymph), outwardly identical with the imago of the mite, differ in smaller size and lack of ability to reproduce. Adult females are about 0.1 mm in length and have a pear-shaped shape. Sexual dimorphism is characterized by the size of individuals — females are larger than males. Predator imagos are translucent (regardless of gender) and can be pale orange or pale yellow.
Life cycle
Neoseiulus californicus females lay 2-4 eggs per day. Egg development lasts 2-4 days, depending on climatic conditions. The eggs hatch into six-legged larvae capable of passing into the protonymphal stage even in the absence of food. The first (larval) stage of development lasts about 1 day, after which Neoseiulus californicus passes through two nymphal stages: protonymph and deutonymph. Both stages (protonymph and deutonymph) are active predators. The duration of each of the nymphal stages is 1-3 days. The entire formation cycle from egg to imago takes 4 to 12 days, depending on temperature conditions. Adults live for about 20 days. At high temperatures, Neoseiulus californicus develops faster than low temperatures.
Also, the rate of acariphage development depends on the food supply. Neoseiulus californicus develops faster when eating spider mites than when consuming other prey sources. However, it will also successfully develop and reproduce when eating other species of mites, including: Aculus schlechtendali (Nalepa), Oligonychus pratensis (Banks), Oligonychus perseae (Tuttle), Oligonychus ilicis (McGregor), Panonychus ulmi (Kochks), Phytonemus pallidus (Banks), broad mite Polyphagotarsonemus (Stenotarsonemus) latus (Banks), and Phytonemus pallidus L. (cyclamen mite). Most of these mites are dangerous pests. In the absence of target victims, it can live and reproduce by consuming thrips and other small insects, but this will affect the reproduction and formation of the population. For a short period of time, in the absence of victims, Neoseiulus californicus is able to maintain life by consuming only pollen.
Economic significance
Neoseiulus californicus is commercially used worldwide to control spider mites and some other economically important mites on avocados, citrus fruits, dwarf hops, grapes, raspberries, roses, and other ornamental plants, strawberries and some vegetable crops. It has been shown to effectively fight spider mites and cyclamen mites on strawberries in greenhouses and in the field.
The recommended release rate depends on the type of pests, their density, and culture.
A predatory mite can tolerate the use of some miticides.