0851996884.pdf

lematic pest in various greenhouse crops,
including vegetables and ornamentals, and
its control is difficult to achieve with either
chemical or biological methods. A. cucumeris
can be used also as a predator of the onion
thrips, T. tabaci. The efficacy of A. cucumeris
and Amblyseius barkeri Hughes in winter
depends highly on their diapause character-
istics. From research of Rodriguez et al.
(1994) it is known that, at a night tempera-
ture of 12°C and below, the diapause inci-
dence of A. cucumerisis 100%, whereas A.
barkeri was not affected by a low night tem-
perature. The mites are usually sold in units
of 50,000.

Amblyseius (Neoseiulus)barkeriHughes

This phytoseiid mite, like A. cucumeris, is
marketed as a predator of the western flower
thrips. It can also be used as a predator of the
two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae
Koch.

Amblyseius degeneransBerlese

This species is also marketed as a predator of
thrips (F. frankliniellaand T. tabaci) and is sold
in units of 200 to 2000. The predatory mite
also survives on pollen and can therefore be
introduced preventively in pollen-bearing
crops (Koppert, 1994).

Amblyseius (Neoseiulus) californicus

(McGregor)

This predacious mite is employed as a preda-
tor of the two-spotted spider mite,T. urticae.

Amblyseius spp.

All the above mentioned Amblyseiusspecies
are released in very high numbers, often up
to 50 or even more per plant. These predatory
mites are distributed in cups or shaker bottles
in a carrier such as bran. Some species are
also sold in sachets, which can be affixed to
plants and which also contain stored product

mites as an additional food to sustain estab-

lishment. Such sachets provide predatory

mites over a period of several weeks.

Galendromus occidentalis(Nesbitt)

This predatory mite, earlier named

Metaseiulus occidentalis(Nesbitt), is sold for

the control of various spider-mite species in

outdoor crops, such as fruit trees and straw-

berries (Cranshaw et al., 1996).

Hypoaspis miles(Berlese)

This mesostigmatic mite can be used as a

predator of sciarid fly larvae and the bulb

mite (Rhizoglyphus echinopus Fumouzze et

Robin). Wright and Chambers (1994) found

that all larval instars of sciarids (Bradysia

pauperaTuom.) are attacked, although the

numbers consumed are dependent on the

size of the larvae. H. milesis sold mostly in

units of 25,000.

Hypoaspis aculeifer (Canestrini)

This mesostigmatic mite is also produced as

a predator of the bulb mite and sciarid fly

larvae.

Mesoseiulus longipesEvans

This is a predator of spider mites that is

usually sold for environments of lower

humidity than is tolerated by the predatory

mite Phytoseiulus persimilis(below). It is sold

for interior/greenhouse use (Cranshaw et

al., 1996).

Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias–Henriot

P. persimilis is the most widely available

species of all marketed natural enemies in our

survey, and is released in even larger popula-

tions than E. formosa. It is used as a predator of

the two-spotted spider mite, T. urticae Koch,

but the carmine spider mite Tetranychus

Commercial Availability of Biocontrol Agents 175