Hidenari Kishimoto

Tolerance to Solar Ultraviolet-B Radiation in the Citrus Red Mite, An Upper Surface User of Host Plant Leaves

Plant‐dwelling mites are potentially exposed to solar ultraviolet‐B (UVB) radiation that causes deleterious and often lethal effects, leading most mites to inhabit the lower (underside) leaf surfaces. However, in species of spider mite belonging to the Genus Panonychus, a substantial portion of individuals occur on upper leaf surfaces. We investigated whether the upper leaf surfaces of citrus trees are favorable for P. citri, and to what extent they are tolerant to UVB radiation. If eggs are not adequately protected from UVB damage, females may avoid ovipositing on the upper surfaces of sunny leaves. To test this, we conducted laboratory experiments using a UVB lamp, and semioutdoor manipulative experiments. As a result, P. citri eggs are tolerant to UVB. Field studies revealed that the ratio of eggs and adult females on upper leaf surfaces were larger for shaded than for sunny leaves. However, 64–89% of eggs hatched successfully even on sunny upper leaf surfaces. Nutritional evaluation revealed that whether on sunny or shaded leaves, in fecundity and juvenile development P. citri reaped the fitness benefits of upper leaf surfaces. Consequently, P. citri is tolerant to UVB damage, and inhabiting the upper surfaces of shaded leaves is advantageous to this mite.

Effect of different plant pollens on the development and oviposition of seven native phytoseiid species (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in Japan

The quality of pollen of tea (Camellia sinensis L.), big leaf podocarp tree [Podocarpus macrophyllus (Thumb.)] and sweet corn (Zea mays L.) as alternative food sources was evaluated for seven native phytoseiid mite species, Amblyseius eharai Amitai and Swirski, Euseius sojaensis (Ehara), Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor), Neoseiulus womersleyi (Schicha), Phytoseius nipponicus Ehara, Chanteius contiguus (Chant) and Typhlodromus vulgaris Ehara. Tea pollen was of high nutritional value for all seven phytoseiid species: most larvae developed to adults and most females oviposited well. Development and oviposition differed greatly among phytoseiid species when reared on big leaf podocarp tree pollen: A. eharai, T. vulgaris and C. contiguus could utilize the pollen as food, but the other phytoseiid species could not. In addition, big leaf podocarp tree pollen could be utilized by A. eharai as food for longer than the other pollen. The quality of sweet corn pollen was inferior in general, although it could somehow favor the development and oviposition of six phytoseiid species except for E. sojaensis.

Antioxidant Protection by Astaxanthin in the Citrus Red Mite (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Abstract Solar ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation and radiant heat have lethal effects on plant-dwelling mites, including spider mites, and their natural enemies, such as phytoseiid mites, leading them to reside on lower leaf surfaces. Panonychus spider mites are outcompeted by Tetranychus spider mites and thus exploit upper leaf surfaces, where they are exposed to both UVB radiation and radiant heat. Panonychus spider mites are thought to produce astaxanthin constitutionally. In this study, we compared carotenoid components, antioxidant capacity, lipid peroxidation, survival, and egg production in wild-type (WTS) and albino-type strains (ATS) of Panonychus citri (McGregor). Four carotenoids (neoxanthin, violaxanthin, lutein, and carotene) and their isomers and esters were identified in both strains, but astaxanthin and its esters were present only in WTS. The singlet oxygen scavenging capacity of lipid-soluble ingredients was greater in WTS than in ATS, whereas the oxygen radical absorbance capacities of hydrophilic ingredients were equivalent between them. Lipid peroxide accumulation was clearly higher in ATS than in WTS under both UVB irradiation (25 °C) and high temperature (35 °C) conditions. The findings are consistent with an antioxidant protective function of astaxanthin in this mite. Survival periods at 38 °C were longer in WTS than in ATS, although no difference was shown at 35 °C or under UVB irradiation. Therefore, astaxanthin accumulation was shown to be a major mechanism for survival under radiant heat, although other mechanisms, such as photoreactivation, might play a major role in survival under UVB radiation.

Phytoseiid mite species composition in Japanese peach orchards estimated using quantitative sequencing

We attempted a population survey of spider mites and phytoseiid mites in Japanese peach orchards with different pesticide practices; however, we had difficulty discriminating phytoseiid mites. To estimate phytoseiid mite species composition, ribosomal gene fragments were amplified from genomic DNA of five phytoseiid mite species using PCR. Cloning and nucleotide sequencing of amplified fragments identified species-specific polymorphic sites. Newly amplified fragments from recombinant plasmids were mixed in various ratios to produce standard DNA template mixtures. After direct sequencing, the signal ratios between two nucleotides at each species-specific polymorphic site were calculated and shown against the corresponding expected ratios. Quadratic regression equations were used to estimate the phytoseiid mite species composition. Results showed that the phytoseiid mite species composition changed during the survey period and varied among study sites.

Population survey of phytoseiid mites and spider mites on peach leaves and wild plants in Japanese peach orchard

A population survey of phytoseiid mites and spider mites was conducted on peach leaves and wild plants in Japanese peach orchards having different pesticide practices. The phytoseiid mite species composition on peach leaves and wild plants, as estimated using quantitative sequencing, changed during the survey period. Moreover, it varied among study sites. The phytoseiid mite species compositions were similar between peach leaves and some wild plants, such as Veronica persica, Paederia foetida, Persicaria longiseta, and Oxalis corniculata with larger quantities of phytoseiid mites, especially after mid-summer. A PCR-based method to detect the ribosomal ITS sequences of Tetranychus kanzawai and Panonychus mori from phytoseiid mites was developed. Results showed that Euseius sojaensis (specialized pollen feeder/generalist predator) uses both spider mites as prey in the field.

Sticky Traps Baited with Synthetic Aggregation Pheromone Predict Fruit Orchard Infestations of Plautia stali (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

ABSTRACT The brown-winged green bug, Plautia stali Scott, mainly reproduces on Japanese cedar or cypress cones in Japanese plantation forests during summer and autumn. It often depletes its food sources in forest habitats and moves to cultivated crops in large numbers. To establish an easy method for assessing the risk of fruit orchard infestation by P. stali, we conducted a 3-yr field survey that monitored the attraction of bugs to the synthetic P. stali aggregation pheromone using a sticky trap.We used a morphological indicator, variable body size depending on food intake, to estimate the nutritional status in nymphs, which showed that nymphs attracted to the synthetic pheromone were starving. Comparisons between increasing changes in the number of stylet sheaths left on the cones by P. stali and the number of trapped nymphs show that monitoring nymphs with the pheromone-baited sticky trap is useful for inferring conditions regarding food resources in forest habitats. The trend toward trapping second instars can provide a timely overview of resource competition for cones. Trapping middle-to-late (third—fifth) instars is a warning that the cones are finally depleted and that there is a high probability that adults will leave the forests and invade the orchards. In addition, trends in trapping adults suggest that there is a potential risk of orchard infestation by the pest and predict the intensity and period of the invasion. The pheromone-baited sticky trap is an easy but useful survey tool for predicting P. stali orchard infestations.

Utilization of plant food resources by phytoseiid mite species with different feeding habits

To examine the utilization of plant food resources by the phytoseiid mite species Amblyseius eharai Amitai & Swirski, Euseius sojaensis (Ehara), and Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Acarina: Phytoseiidae), we collected phytoseiid mites on peach leaves in Japanese peach orchards. Then, phytoseiid mite samples that had been estimated to contain a single phytoseiid mite species using quantitative sequencing were selected. Simultaneously, we surveyed pollen available for phytoseiid mites in peach orchards and selected Digitaria ciliaris (Retz.) Koeler (Poales: Poaceae), Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. (Poales: Poaceae), and Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc. (Pinales: Pinaceae) as pollen source plants. Subsequently, the internal transcribed spacer sequences of ribosomal genes or the non-coding region of the chloroplast DNA of the three plant species were amplified from phytoseiid mite samples using polymerase chain reaction. Results showed that phytoseiid mite species with different feeding habits use plant food sources, possibly pollens, of D. ciliaris and P. densiflora.