The cheyletoidea (Prostigmata), with special reference to the potential of cheyletus malaccensis oudemans as biological control agent of post-harvest pests

Abstract

In the current work we illustrate the potentials of using predatory mites of the family Cheyletidae, for biological control of stored product insects and mites. From this family, two species, Cheyletus eruditus (Schrank) and Cheyletus malaccensis Oudemans, have been evaluated in detail for this purpose, and found to be effective as predators against a wide range of species, particularly stored product moth eggs and mites of the group Astigmatina. Cheyletus eruditus has been tested in field assays in northern Europe, indicating a good performance as a biocontrol agent. Naturally occurring populations are more often studied, and found to be spatially correlated with specific prey items and densities. However, the addition of more live arthropods (predatory mites) in the stored products, is an issue of controversy, as the increase of the arthropod densities in some commodities may be related with an increase of detection of arthropod fragments and other related contaminants in the final commodity. Hence, in this context, macro-biological control organisms may not have the same meaning at the post-harvest stages of agricultural products, as compared to its use in crops.