Western predatory mite, Galendromus occidentalis is considered as an excellent biological control agent the control of spider mites the most damaging pest of many greenhouse or field growing economically important crops including corn, cotton, many fruit trees,grapevines, ornamental plants and strawberries
- - Western predatory mite, Galendromus occidentalis is effective against the following pests
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- Apple rust mites, Aculus schlechtendali
- European red mites, Panonychus ulmi
- McDaniel spider mites,Tetranychus mcdanieli
- Pacific spider mite,Tetranychus pacificus
- Pear leaf blister mites, Eriophyes (=Phytoptus)pyri
- Pear rust mites, Epitrimerus pyri
- Prunus rust mites, Aculus (Phyllocoptes)fockeui
- Twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae
- + Key factors for Western predatory mite, Galendromus occidentalis effectiveness
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- Western predatory mite, Galendromus occidentalis are natural predators of different species of pest mites (see above).
- Western predatory mite, Galendromus occidentalis are considered as the warm adapted predatory mites because the optimum temperature required for their normal reproduction and development is between 27°C (80.6°F) and 29°C (84.2°F).
- Because of their warm adaptation capacity, these predatory mites are considered as the ideal biological control agents for controlling pest mites in the US greenhouses where temperatures often exceed 25°C; during summer.
- These mites become sluggish under cooler temperatures but they can become active again when temperature rises.
- These mites do not survive under really cold and frosty conditions.
- In addition, Galendromus occidentalis undergo diapause (hibernation) under low temperatures and less than 11 hours of daylight.
- + How Western predatory mite, Galendromus occidentalis work in the greenhouses or fields
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- Western predatory mite, Galendromus occidentalis are known to feed voraciously on their different kinds pest mites (see above).
- After application in the greenhouses or fields, Western predatory mite, Galendromus occidentalis starts munching on their hosts.
- Each adult mite can consume about 2-3 pest mites and about 6-7 eggs of pest mites per day.
- While feeding, mites develop and reproduce rapidly.
- Under favorable environmental conditions and if there is enough food around, these mite can recycle continuously (do not need to apply again and again) and help to keep the pest population under economic threshold level.
- + How many western predatory mite, Galendromus occidentalis you need to release
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- Release 2-3 predatory mites per leaf of pest infested plant
- Release about 2 predatory mites per square feet area in the greenhouses or fields.
- + Why you need western predatory mites, Galendromus occidentalis
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- they can reduce the crop damage by feeding on mite pests responsible for the damage
- they can munch on egg, immature and adults pest mites
- they are able to actively search for their hosts and feed on them
- they can reproduce and continue their life cycle on the foliage after first application
- they are commercially available and easy to apply in the greenhouses or fields
- + Why predatory mites are safer than traditional pesticides
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- they do not damage plants
- can be used and applied around children and pets
- do not cause any harm to the personnel involved in their production and application
- food products are safe to handle and eat when they are treated with mites
- they do not harm humans, animals and pollute the environment
- + Research Papers
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- Colfer, R.G., Rosenheim, J.A., Godfrey, L.D. and Hsu, C.L. 2003. Interactions between the augmentatively released predaceous mite Galendromus occidentalis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and naturally occurring generalist predators. Environmental Entomology 32:840-852.
- Croft, B.A. and Luh, H.K. 2004. Phytoseiid mites on unsprayed apple trees in Oregon, and other western states (USA): distributions, life-style types and relevance to commercial orchards. Experimental and Applied Acarology 33:281-326.
