Biology Of Mites Research Articles

Mesostigmata (Gamasina, Uropodina), efficient predators in agroecosystems

Mesostigmata or Gamasida are known from a wide range of habitats. Most of them are free living predators in soil and litter, on the soil surface or on plants. Some of them are able to disperse rapidly by phoresy. Most of them feed on small invertebrates. In agroecosystems, edaphic Mesostigmata are important predators of Collembola and Nematoda, and those living on plants may efficiently control pests like spider mites. The paper gives a short introduction to the participation of soil mesofauna in functions of agroecosystems, and focuses on biology and ecology of mesostigmatic mites in particular, by reviewing recent literature. Implications of agricultural practice for diversity and population development and consequences for ecological processes are highlighted. Results from my own studies on the impact of the pesticide Aldicarb on the Gamasina are presented, which document various patterns of population development following the application. Evidence for direct and indirect causes and effects is discussed.

Controlling Dust Mites Psychrometrically - a Review for Building Scientists and Engineers

Abstract The literature for the control of dust mites by modification of the psychrometric conditions of the environment is reviewed from the standpoint of a building scientist or engineer, both to present to building science workers an envelope of micro-environment psychrometric conditions to use as control, and to highlight those areas of dust mite biology that require further research to complete the knowledge of the psychrometric envelope for dust mite viability. Some important data to allow tight specification of psychrometric control conditions are missing, viz.: the temperature dependence of critical equilibrium activity for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Euroglyphus maynei; behaviour of dust mite populations under a fluctuating climate; and the difference between wild and laboratory populations. The widely quoted figure for dust mite control of 7 g/mg absolute humidity should be used with caution.

The biology of allergenic domestic mites. An update.

Since 1990 our knowledge of the biology of domestic mites has increased in a number of areas. Taxonomically, keys that are easier to use by nonacarologists have been made available and should help in clinical studies of mite populations in the home environment. From house dust surveys our understanding of the geographical distribution ofE. maynei andB. tropicalis has progressed. Detailed studies of mite populations in mattresses has clarified the distribution of mites within this habitat, which may eventually aid in targeting control of mites in mattresses. In relation to this, a clearer understanding of the influence of climatic factors on the mattress microhabitat has led to investigations into the potential use of ventilation as a means of domestic mite control. Our increased understanding of the survival of desiccation resistant protonymphs is important in this regard. More information on the biochemistry of mite enzymes has been obtained from studies to characterize potentially allergenic mite enzymes. Finally, the relationship between house dust mites and fungi has been resolved with respect to both nutritional ecology and allergen production. Our progress in all of these areas serves to demonstrate the invaluable contribution that biological research can make to clinical studies of domestic mite epidemiology, allergen production, and control.

Environmental control of indoor biologic agents

Environmental control of indoor biologic agents

Environmental control of indoor biologic agents

The indoor environment contains unique pollutants, such as environmental tobacco smoke and indoor allergens. In addition, air pollutants may reach higher levels indoors than outdoors, and in some instances may exceed the national standards for outdoor exposure. Nonindustrial indoor settings, such as offices, residences, and vehicles, also have air quality problems. Although the role of occupational air pollutants (organic and inorganic) in causing complaints in the workplace has been clearly documented, the relationship between poor air quality and health complaints is often controversial. The main causes of poor indoor air quality are an inadequate ventilation or fresh air intake, biologic contamination of the indoor environment, and an accumulation of noxious compounds. A list of important indoor air pollutants is shown in Table I. Because indoor allergen concentrations are higher in homes than in public places, a greater effort should be made to control allergens at home. A reason for this difference may be the more aggressive chemical treatment of carpets in public places. However, in some instances high mite, cat, and dog allergen levels have been detected in schools and day care centers. These findings have important implications for families who are practicing allergen avoidance at home because the effort and time spent controlling allergen exposure could be jeopardized by exposure in the school environment.' Studies conducted in schools have demonstrated that carpets contain high levels of a variety of allergens including pollen, cat, dog, food, mite, and mold allergens.2 Carpets in schools and homes are an important reservoir of allergens.

Generations and reproduction in the predacious miteAmblyseius swirskii Ath.-Hen. (Acari, Phytoseiidae) fed with artificial and natural diets

The predatory mite,Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot successfully went through 5 generations on a diet consisting of pollen grains ofRicinus communis (L.) and a mixture compositing of yeast, milk, cystine, proline, arginine, sucrose, and glucose in the ratio 1∶2 respectively. It was able to return to their natural prey,Tetranychus urticae Koch, in the six generation, apparently unaffected by the artificial-pollen diet. The average reproduction as well as percentage attaining maturity were normal through successive generations indicating no deficiencies in the predator mite biology. Females on both tetranychid prey and pollen diet gave rise to the ratio approximating 2.2 females to 1 male; this ratio was changed to an average 1.7 females and 1 male in females fed on artificial-pollen diet.

The biology of mites

The biology of mites

Biology and efficiency of phytoseiid mites as affected by cucumber leaves

The biology of the phytoseiid mitesPhytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot,Phytoseius finitimus Ribaga andAmblyseius gossipi Elbadry was studied using the cucumber leaves as a rearing substrate. The consumption of the two-spotted spider miteTetranychus urticae Koch by the different stages ofP. persimilis was higher than that of their counterparts of the other two predators. The present study revealed that cucumber leaves were adequate fot the development and reproduction ofP. persimilis andP. finitimus, while this rearing substrate was inadequate for the biology ofA. gossipi.

Plant stress--insect interactions

Global Food Production and Plant Stress (E. Heinrichs). Plant Mediated Effects of Soil Mineral Stresses on Insects (D. Dale). Host Plant Suitability in Relation to Water Stress (T. Holtzer, et al.). Influence of Temperature-induced Stress on Host-plant Suitability to Insects (J. Benedict and J. Hatfield). Effects of Electromagnetic Radiation on Insect-plant Interactions (M. Berenbaum). Plant Stress from Arthropods: Insecticide and Acaricide Effects on Insect, Mite and Host Plant Biology (T. Riley). The Effects of Plant Growth Regulators and Herbicides on Host Plant Quality to Insects (B. Campbell). Insect Populations on Host Plants Subjected to Air Pollution (P. Hughes). Effects of Mechanical Damage to Plants on Insect Populations (C. Smith). Sensitivity of Insect Damaged Plants to Environmental Stresses (D. Norris). Plant Induced Stresses as Factors in Natural Enemy Efficacy (M. Shepard and D. Dahlman). Quality of Diseased Plants as Hosts for Insects (A. Hammond and T. Hardy). The Dynamics of Insect Populations in Crop Systems Subject to Weed Interference (M. Altieri).

Studies of the honey bee tracheal mite (Acarapis woodi) (Acari: Tarsonemidae) during winter

Changes in the populations of tracheal mites (Acarapis woodi) in individual honey bees were quantified in New York during winter. Mite prevalence increased greatly from November to February, then declined again in late spring. The simultaneous increases in prevalence values and in slight infestations restricted to the outer portions of the tracheae strongly suggest that many older bees were becoming infested with mites during the winter period when no brood was being reared. Trends in mite infestations varied greatly in different colonies for reasons that are not clear. Although mite reproduction was generally low (< 2.5 immatures per female), it appeared to be higher in October than during the rest of the winter. The sex ratio (3.04) was biased in favour of females. These patterns are different in some respects from those described for the same organism in Europe, emphasizing the need to carefully evaluate the biology of tracheal mites in North America and their interactions with their bee hosts before predicting their economic impact.

Artificial Feeding of Northern Fowl Mites, Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Canestrini and Fanzago) (Acari: Macronyssidae), through Membranes

A new device and technique are described for the in vitro feeding of northern fowl mites, Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Canestrini and Fanzago). The device consisted of a glass cylinder 25 mm in length and in outside diameter, capped with a chick skin membrane at one end and a snap-cap with a wire cloth window at the other end. Maximum feeding by northern fowl mites on warmed heparinized chicken blood occurred after 60 min and at a blood temperature range of 36-42 C. Skin membranes prepared from 1-wk-old chicks gave significantly higher feeding rates than those from 4-wk-old chicks, but unfrozen skins and skins frozen up to 4 wk were equally effective. Also, mites fed equally well through white leghorn and broiler chick skin membranes. About 80% of northern fowl mites fed. The in vitro technique described simplifies the approach to studies of northern fowl mite biology and physiology.

Influence of Peppermint Phenolics and Monoterpenes on Twospotted Spider Mite (Acari: Tetranychidae)

We examined Tetranychus urticae (Koch) fecundity and development on three peppermint, Mentha piperita L., leaf age classes which differed significantly ( P < 0.05) in total phenolic and monoterpene content. Young, expanding lateral leaves had the highest monoterpene and phenolic content. Mature top mainstem leaves had the lowest phenolic content, and old bottom mainstem leaves had the lowest monoterpene content. As leaf phenolic content increased, the number of eggs laid per leaf significantly decreased ( P < 0.001), and dispersal of immature mites, measured as percent caught in sticky Tack- Trap cages, significantly increased ( P < 0.001). Development times of immatures on young lateral leaves were significantly longer ( P < 0.05) than on the more mature mainstem leaves. Increased activity of T. urticae may have resulted in reduced feeding rates, which may in turn have accounted for the lower number of eggs laid and the increased development time of immatures on peppermint leaves with high phenolic content. The monoterpene content of leaves was not significantly correlated with spider mite biology, perhaps because monoterpenes are sequestered in plant cells not fed on by spider mites. However, vapors from 5% solutions of menthol and pulegone significantly reduced oviposition and increased mortality of female mites confined in unventilated petri dishes ( P < 0.05).

Behavior and Development of Mononychellus tanajoa (Acari: Tetranychidae) on Resistant and Susceptible Cultivars of Cassava1

The biology of Mononychellus tanajoa (Bondar) on resistant and susceptible genotypes of cassava, Manihot esculenta Crantz, was studied by using the leaf disc procedure. Mite biology was affected distinctly by different resistant sources. Among these effects were the lowering of fecundiyy, preference, larval and nymphal survival, adult longevity, and the rale of development as compared with the susceplible controls. The M Col 1434 resistant variety had the most severe effects on mite development, survival, and preference. M Bra 12, although showing high levels of resistance in the field, had intermediate effects on mite survival and preference.

Overwintering ecology of alpine Collembola and oribatid mites from the Austrian Alps

Abstract. 1. Collembola and oribatid mites from windswept mountain ridges at about 2700 m a.s.l. in the Austrian Alps were all killed by freezing, and depend on supercooling to survive low winter temperatures. The Collembola Tetracanthella afurcata Handschin, Xenylla acauda Gisin and Isotoma spp. collected in January had average supercooling points between ‐25 and ‐29°C, and the oribatid mites Fuscozetes fuscipes (Koch) and Lepidozetes singularis Berlese of about ‐28 and ‐31°C respectively. The ability to supercool was not increased during storage at ‐5°C, and was generally lower in species collected in March.2. The oribatid mites Fuscozetes intermedius Caroli and Maffia, F. fuscipes, Damaeus diversipilis (Willmann) and L.singularis contained from 9 to 16 μg glycerol per mg fresh weight after storage at ‐5°C, while no glycerol could be detected in the Collembola Isotoma spp., T.afurcata and Onychiurus vontoernei Gisin.3. Activity below 0°C was observed in T.afurcata and O.vontoernei, which had chill‐coma temperatures of ‐7.7 and ‐4.9°C respectively.4. Some specimens of F.intermedius survived more than 90 days of anoxia at 0°C, T.afurcata up to 60 days and O.vontoernei up to 24 days.5. The overwintering biology of Collembola and oribatid mites from the Austrian Alps appears similar to that of Norwegian species, except that those from Austria have slightly lower supercooling points and higher contents of glycerol.

コナダニ類に関する研究 I : サヤアシニクダニの発育, 産卵に及ぼす温度の影響

コナダニ類に関する研究 I : サヤアシニクダニの発育, 産卵に及ぼす温度の影響

The Hypopi (Acarina: Sarcoptiformes: Hypoderidae) from the subcutaneous tissues of birds in Louisiana.

Hypopial nymphs of mites of the family Hypoderidae were recovered from the subcutaneous tissues of 10 species of birds in Louisiana. New host records are established for Hypodectes (Hypodectoides) propus bubulci from Leucophoyx thula and Dichromonassa rufescens and Hypodectes (Hypodectes) nycticoracis from Ixobrychus exilis and Florida caerulea. Additional host records for the above are the former species from Ardea herodius herodius, Bubulcus ibis, and Florida caerulea and the latter from Nycticorax nycticorax. Also, Neottialges (Pelecanectes) eudocimae and Phalacrodectes whartoni from Eudocimus albus, Neottialges (Petecanectes) evansi from Phalacrocorax auritus, and Toucanectes dryocopi from Dryocopus pileatus were collected. Hypodectes (Hypodectoides) propus similimus Ĉerný, 1969 is considered to be a synonym of H. (H.) propus bubulci Fain, 1967 and Alcedinectes alcyon is proposed as a new combination for Gabucinia alcyon Boyd, 1967. The affinities of these species, host-parasite relationships, and certain aspects of the biology of these mites are discussed.

Resource Partitioning in Species of the Water Mite Genus Eylais

Resource partitioning was studied in 20 species of the water mite genus Eylais, the larvae of which parasitize adult Coleoptera and Hemiptera living in shallow ponds. Co—existence of sympatric species is possible because the mites exploit host resources in different ways. Most commonly they parasitize different species, but when hosts are identical, the mites remain segregated by differences in the precise site of attachment, biotope, or season of parasitism. Mite biology, host dispersal, and competition for attachment sites from other water mite species may restrict further subdivision of host resources.

The biology and ecology of granary mites of the Pacific Northwest. IV. Various aspects of the reproductive behavior of Leiodinychus krameri (Acarina: Uropodidae).

Mating, fertilization, reproduction, ovoviviparity, and oviposition of Leiodinychus krameri (G. and R. Canestrini) are discussed. Mating is described in 3 phases: (1) the premating or exploratory phase, (2) formation of the sperm packet and its attachment to the female, and (3) assimilation of the sperm packet by the female, and post mating behavior. Several case histories illustrating un-usual procedures are discussed, as is competition between the sexes.

Biology of some Predatory Insects and Mites Associated with the Fruit Tree Red Spider Mite (Metatetranychus Ulmi(Koch))in South-Eastern England II. Some Important Predators of the Mite

Biology of some Predatory Insects and Mites Associated with the Fruit Tree Red Spider Mite (<i>Metatetranychus Ulmi</i>(Koch)<i>)</i>in South-Eastern England II. Some Important Predators of the Mite

Mites and Stored Food Products

THE mites associated with stored food products have received much less attention from biologists than the insect pests found with them. For one thing, students of Acari are few, and mites are often hard to indentify. Also, much of the leading systematic writings on these creatures has been published in Slanguages and in journals that are often very inaccessible. Under the title of "The Mites Associated with Stored Food Products"*, Mrs. A. M. Hughes has written a useful paper that has recently been ssued on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research inaugurated a study of the biology of mites, while the Ministry of Food stationed an officer, Mrs. M. Kendall, at the British Museum (Natural History) to study their systematics. She was followed in this work by Mrs. A. M. Hughes, of the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, who Was deputed to work on a part-time basis attached to the Infestation Division of the Ministry of Food. This latter Division, it may be added, was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in September 1947.