A Tool to Survey Predatory Phytoseiid Species against Thrips

Phytoseiid mite species were surveyed on garden and wild plants in an experimental field in Japan. The above-ground part of the plants were collected from the field, and dried in the laboratory to collect phytoseiid mites from the plant-parts. When the plant-parts were dried on the bean leaflets rearing Thrips tabaci larvae, phytoseiid mites on the plant-parts moved to and remained on the leaflets during two-day treatment. Populations of Typhlodromips sessor and Neoseiulus makuwa were established when fed on T. tabaci. Then, the life history parameters of both species were examined in the laboratory. In comparison with the data from previous studies, the daily oviposition of both species was similar to that of Amblyseius eharai, Neoseiulus barkeri, and Neoseiulus cucumeris, and the survival rate during the development of both species was similar to that of N. barkeri. The mode of reproduction of T. sessor was confirmed by the experiment as parthenogenetic thelytokous reproduction.