Spintbestrijding met roofmijten in komkommer : Effecten van luchtvochtigheid en onderlinge interacties tussen roofmijtsoorten

Samenvatting

Spider mites in cucumbers are sometimes difficult to control with predatory mites, especially during dry weather in spring. This research examined which species of predatory mites provide the best control of spider mites at low humidity, to what extent generalist predatory mites influence the control of spider mites with specialist predatory mites and what options are available to support specialist predatory mites with alternative food. Greenhouse trials with different humidity levels in cucumbers have shown that low humidity levels do not hinder the effectiveness of the predatory mites Neoseiulus californicus and Phytoseiulus persimilis, but that spider mites develop faster at a lower humidity than at a higher humidity levels. Various species of prey mites were suitable for feeding N. californicus in the crop. The generalist predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii could seriously disrupt the control of spider mites with N. californicus.