G. Th. Papadoulis

Temperature-Dependent Development and Life Table of Iphiseius degenerans (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Abstract The effect of temperature on the development of immature stages of the predator Iphiseius degenerans (Berlese) was studied at 15, 20, 25, 27.5, 30, and 32.5°C with 60% RH and photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h when feeding on Tetranychus urticae. The data obtained were used for the estimation of the thermal requirements of this predator by a linear and nonlinear model (Lactin 2-model). Developmental thresholds that were estimated by the linear model for immature stages of egg, protonymph, and deutonymph were approximately the same and found to be 11.71, 10.11, and 11.28°C, respectively, whereas that of the larval stage was found to be lower (7°C). The Lactin-2 model was also applied, and lower values were estimated for all immature stages than those by the linear model. Biological characteristics and life table parameters of the predator were also studied at 15, 20, 25, 30, and 32.5°C. Preoviposition period was shortest at high temperatures of 30 and 32.5°C (1.18 and 1.08 d, respectively), whereas fecundity was highest at 30°C. Longevity of adults and mean generation time was longest at 15°C. The intrinsic rate of increase was highest at 25 and 30°C (0.22 and 0.23 d−1, respectively), whereas doubling time was found to be shortest at 30°C. The results show that this predator develops effectively at a broad range of temperatures. Moreover, it can increase at relatively high temperatures and is well adapted to the high temperatures that occur in Mediterranean region.

New records of stigmaeid mites from Greece with description of a new species (Acari: Stigmaeidae)

Abstract Five species of stigmaeid mites, Storchia robusta (Berlese), Postumius tectus Kuznetzov, Eustigmaeus arcticus (Wood), Eustigmaeus ottavii (Berlese) and Eustigmaeus rhodomelus (Koch), are reported for the first time from Greece. A new species, Eustigmaeus ioanninensis, collected on grass pastures at Katsikas, Ioannina Co., northwestern Greece, is illustrated and described.

Effect of Several Different Pollens on the Bio-Ecological Parameters of the Predatory Mite Typhlodromus athenas Swirski and Ragusa (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

ABSTRACT The development, survivorship, and reproduction of the predacious mite Typhlodromus athenas Swirski and Ragusa were studied in the laboratory by rearing the predator on nine different plant pollens [almond (Prunus amygdalis Batsch), apple (Malus domestica Borkh.), apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.), cherry (Prunus avium L.), pear (Pyrus communis L.), plum (Prunus domestica L.), walnut (Juglans regia L.), olive (Olea europaea L.), Typha sp.], and pollen collected from bee hives. All experiments were conducted in environmental chambers at 20 ± 1°C, 65% RH, and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h. Survival during immature development ranged from 81.1 to 96.0%. The shortest mean developmental time from egg to adult with respect to the range of pollen species was recorded for females and males fed on almond pollen (10.76 ± 0.18 and 10.45 ± 0.21 d, respectively), while the longest was on beehive pollen (26.97 ± 0.23 and 24.00 ± 0.25 d for females and males, respectively). Female longevity varied from 51.63 ± 5.52 d (olive pollen) to 102.81 ± 6.60 d (pear pollen), while fecundity ranged from 5.33 ± 2.35 eggs per female (beehive pollen) to 26.43 ± 1.73 eggs per female (almond pollen). The diet consisting of almond pollen resulted in the highest intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm ) (1.00d-1) and pollen collected from bee hives resulted in the lowest (0.013d-1). These results showed that various pollen could favor the development of T. athenas, and also support the view that alternative food resources may play an important role in the field for sustaining and increasing the predators population.

Effect of seven different pollens on bio-ecological parameters of the predatory mite Typhlodromus foenilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae).

Abstract Development, immature survival, reproduction, and life table parameters of the predatory mite Typhlodromus foenilis Oudemans were evaluated on seven different plant pollens (almond, apple, pear, cherry, apricot, plum, and walnut). Experiments were conducted in environmental chambers at 20 ± 1°C with 65 ± 5% RH and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D). T. foenilis successfully completed its development on all pollen diets. Female mean developmental time from egg to adult emergence ranged from 11.3 ± 0.12 to 14.28 ± 0.23 d, whereas that of males was from 10.81 ± 0.17 to 14.17 ± 0.17 d. The average life span of adult females varied from 41.0 ± 1.46 to 65.45 ± 3.89 d, and total fecundity ranged from 11.78 ± 0.65 to 39.09 ± 2.38 eggs/female. The intrinsic rate of increase of T. foenilis was highest on almond pollen (rm = 0.104/d) and was the shortest on walnut pollen (rm = 0.055/d). The results show that this predatory mite develops well on all pollens, with almond and apricot pollens being of high nutritional value. This study provides further information for mass rearing of T. foenilis, and these findings are discussed in relevance with the establishment of this species in the field.

Discrimination of Two Natural Biocontrol Agents in the Mediterranean Region Based on Mitochondrial DNA Sequencing Data

Macrolophus pygmaeus and M. melanotoma (Hemiptera: Miridae) are biological control agents used in greenhouse crops, the former preferring plants of the Solanaceae family and the latter the aster Dittrichia viscosa. The discrimination of these species is of high significance for effective biological pest control, but identification based on morphological characters of the host plant is not always reliable. In this study, sequencing analysis of mitochondrial gene segments 12S rDNA and COI has been combined with crossing experiments and morphological observations to develop new markers for Macrolophus spp. discrimination and to provide new data on their genetic variability. This is the first comprehensive research in Greece on M. pygmaeus and M. melanotoma genetic variability based on sequencing data from 12S rDNA and COI gene segments. The relationship of this variability to host plant preference must be investigated in an agricultural ecosystem.

Revision of the genus Cenopalpus Pritchard and Baker (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) and description of two new species from Greece.

Abstract Division of the genus Cenopalpus Pritchard and Baker, 1958 into seven species — groups is presented. A key to the seven species — groups and species with six lateral setae, based on females and deutonymphs, is given. Two species are described and illustrated as new: C. pistaceae sp. nov. and C. eretieus sp. nov. collected from leaves and twigs of Pistacia lentiscus L. and Salvia officinalis L., respectively. C. arbuti Hatzinikolis and Emmanouel, 1987 is redescribed and C. officinalis Papaioannou-Soulioti, 1986 isillustrated and redescribed.

New records of phytoseiid mites from greece with descriptions of two new species of Typhlodromus scheuten (Acarina: Phytoseiidae)

Abstract Six species of phytoseiid mites, Amblyseius judaicus (Swirski & Amitai), A. meridionalis (Berlese), Typhlodromus calabriae (Ragusa & Swirski), T. carmonae Chant & Yoshida-Shaul, T. commenticius Livshitz & Kuznetsov and T. simplex (Chant) are recorded for the first time in Greece. Females of Typhlodromus olympicus n.sp. found on Buxus sempervirens L. and Juniperus sp., and T. kykladiticus n..sp. found on Spartium junceum L., are described and illustrated.

Two new species of Amblyseius berlese (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from Greece

Abstract Adult females of two new phytoseiid species, Amblyseius keae and Amblyseius hymetticus, are described and illustrated. The former species was collected from Quercus aegilops L. and the latter from an undentified plant of the family Labiatae in Greece.

New records of phytoseiid mites from Greece with a description of the larva of Typhlodromus erymanthii Papadoulis & Emmanouel (Acarina: Phytoseiidae)

Abstract Eight species of phytoseiid mites, Amblyseius cucumeris (Oudemans), A graminis Chant, A. insuetus Livshitz & Kuznetsov, A marginatus (Wainstein), A nemorivagus Athias-Henriot, A setosus (Muma), Typhlodromus erevanicus (Wainstein & Arutunjan) and T.peculiaris (Kolodochka) are recorded for the first time in Greece. The larva of Typhlodromus erymanthii Papadoulis & Emmanouel is described and illustrated. The ontogenetic development of the idiosomal chaetotaxy of this species also is given.

Temperature and Diet Effects on Immature Development of Predatory Mite Typhlodromus athenas Swirski and Ragusa (Acari: Phyotseiidae)

ABSTRACT Temperature and food quality both can influence growth rates and developmental time of herbivorous insects and mites. Typhlodromus athenas Swirski and Ragusa is an indigenous mite in the Mediterranean region and data on its temperature dependent development are lacking. In the current study, temperature-dependent development and survival of T. athenas immature stages were evaluated on eggs and all stages of Tetranychus urticae Koch, as well as on almond (Prunus amygdalis Batsch) pollen, under seven constant temperatures ranging from 15 to 35°C, 65% RH, and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h. On both diets survival was considerably high at all temperatures. The longest developmental period of immature stages was recorded at 15°C, whereas the shortest was at 30°C Female immatures on almond pollen had shorter developmental time compared to that on twospotted spider mites. Food had a significant effect on female total developmental time at temperatures lower than 25°C The lower developmental thresholds, estimated by a linear model, for egg-to-adult of females and males fed on pollen were 8.60 and 8.77°C, respectively, whereas on T. urticae they were 10.15 and 10.62°C, respectively. Higher values of tmin for total development were estimated by a nonlinear model (Lactin-2), and ranged from 10.21°C for both females and males on almond, to 11.07 for females and 10.78°C for males on prey. Moreover, this model estimated optimal and lethal temperatures accurately. The results of this study indicate that T. athenas appears better adapted to higher temperatures that occur in the Mediterranean region and may be a useful biological control agent.