Abstract
The increasing concern over the continued use of pesticides is pressurising apple growers to look for alternatives to chemical pest control. The re-discovery, and subsequent conservation, of the beneficial predatory mite, Anystis baccarum (Linnaeus) (Acari: Anystidae), in Bramley apple orchards in Northern Ireland offers a potential alternative control component for incorporation into integrated pest management strategies. Anystis baccarum readily feeds upon economically important invertebrate pest species including European fruit tree red spider mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch) (Acari: Tetranychidae) and show a level of compatibility with chemical pesticides. Recent mis-identification by apple growers of this beneficial mite species had resulted in unnecessary pesticide applications being applied within Northern Irish apple orchards. However, dissemination of information to the apple growers and promotion of the benefits this mite offers in apple orchards has helped to conserve its populations. Apple growers, across the United Kingdom, must be encouraged to be aware of A. baccarum, and indeed all predatory fauna, within their orchards and seek to conserve populations. In doing so, it will ensure that the British apple market remains an environmentally sustainable production system.
Highlights
Fruit crops, especially apple (Malus × domestica Borkh. (Rosaceae)), have a relatively high economic value in the fresh market and cosmetic damage and insect infestation must be kept to a minimum
Much work has been done on the impact of predators, such as Typhlodromus pyri Scheuten (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and Zetzellia mali (Ewing) (Acari: Stigmaeidae), on populations of both European fruit tree red spider mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch) (Acari: Tetranychidae), and apple rust mite, Aculus schlechtendali (Nalepa) (Acari: Eriophyidae) [3,4,5,6,7]
These predators are found in Northern Irish Bramley apple orchards, Cuthbertson and Murchie [8] identified the prostigmatid ―whirligig‖ mite, Anystis baccarum (Linnaeus) (Acari: Anystidae) (Figure 1), as the most abundant predatory mite in the orchards surveyed
Summary
Especially apple (Malus × domestica Borkh. (Rosaceae)), have a relatively high economic value in the fresh market and cosmetic damage and insect infestation must be kept to a minimum. Much work has been done on the impact of predators, such as Typhlodromus pyri Scheuten (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and Zetzellia mali (Ewing) (Acari: Stigmaeidae), on populations of both European fruit tree red spider mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch) (Acari: Tetranychidae), and apple rust mite, Aculus schlechtendali (Nalepa) (Acari: Eriophyidae) [3,4,5,6,7] These predators are found in Northern Irish Bramley apple orchards, Cuthbertson and Murchie [8] identified the prostigmatid ―whirligig‖ mite, Anystis baccarum (Linnaeus) (Acari: Anystidae) (Figure 1), as the most abundant predatory mite in the orchards surveyed. Loss of natural enemies means that minor pests can become more damaging as the natural constraints on their populations have been removed [14]
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