Biological control of two spotted spider mite, tetranychus urticae (Acari : Phytoseiidae)‎ with releases of predatory mite, Neoseiulus californicus (Acari : Phytoseiidae)‎ in strawberries

Abstract EN

The two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) is one of the most important pests responsible for yielding losses to many agricultural crops.

In this study, Neoseiulus californicus McGregor (Acari: Phytoseiidae) has been evaluated as a natural predator for T.

urticae infesting strawberry.

The results indicated that reduction in number of T.

urticae after releasing the predator N.

californicus were in the first week, 31.9% and 51.3% in single and double releases, respectively.

The reduction in the second and third weeks reached to 70.8 &80% and 71.7 and 89.3% for single and double releases, respectively.

It is concluded that the repeated releases of N.

californicus was the best for preventing T.

urticae to exceed the economic threshold level.