Olfactory response of Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to untreated and Beauveria bassiana-treated Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae)

• Published in: Experimental & applied acarology Vol. 60; no. 2; pp. 219 - 227
• Main Authors: Seiedy, Marjan, Saboori, Alireza, Zahedi-Golpayegani, Azadeh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-06-2013; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acari; Acari - microbiology; Animal Ecology; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Animals; Avoidance behavior; Beauveria - physiology; Behavior, Animal - physiology; Biological control; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cucumis sativus; Entomology; Female; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Life Sciences; Pest control; Predators; Predatory Behavior; Smell - physiology; Time Factors; Olfactory response; Cucumber plants; Attracting behavior
• ISSN: 0168-8162; 1572-9702
• DOI: 10.1007/s10493-012-9652-8

Determination of attraction and avoidance behavior of predators is important in concomitant use of multiple natural enemies to control a pest. The olfactory response of the predatory mite
Phytoseiulus
persimilis
was studied to odors related to
Tetranychus
urticae
adults infected by
Beauveria bassiana
DEBI008 in 0, 24, 48 and 72 h intervals, both in absence and in presence of plants. In plant-present experiments,
P. persimilis
attraction was neither towards adults of
T. urticae
infected by 0.02 % Tween 80 (as control), nor to the ones infected by
B. bassiana
for 0 or 24 h, whereas significant attraction towards the control was observed when tested against
T. urticae
infected by
B. bassiana
for 48 or 72 h. In absence of plants,
P. persimilis
displayed significant avoidance of
T. urticae
infected by
B. bassiana
for 48 or 72 h, when their alternative option was 0.02 % Tween 80-infected
T. urticae
adults. These results indicate that
P. persimilis
can recognize the presence of
B. bassiana
and that the predator avoids the fungus. This suggests that the two natural enemy species can be used together in biological control programmes.