PREDACIOUS MITES (ACARINA: PHYTOSEIIDAE) ON SPRAYED APPLE TREES AT BATHURST (N.S.W.)

Abstract

Five predacious mite species of the family Phytoseiidae were found on leaves and spurs of apple trees (cv. Granny Smith) at Bathurst during the 1971–72 season: Amblyseius lentiginosus Denmark and Schicha (closely resembling A. rhabdus Denmark), Phytoseius fotheringhamiae Denmark and Schicha (closely resembling P. macropilis (Banks) and P. woodburyi De Leon), Typhlodromus helenae Schicha and Dosse (closely resembling T. pyri Scheuten), Typhlodromus nesbitti Womersley, and Amblyseius sp. The species were detected only between late February and April after a pesticide spraying programme incorporating ryania, captan and dinocap had ceased. Adults of all phytoseiid mites were observed feeding on all developmental stages of Tetranychus urticae (Koch) (Tetranychidae). Copyright © 1975, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved