''Typhlodromips swirskii'', the Swirski mite (synonymy: ''Amblyseius swirskii'', ''Amblyseius rykei'', ''Neoseiulus swirskii''), is a species of predatory mite in the family
Phytoseiidae. It is used in
biological pest control
Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests, such as insects, mites, weeds, and plant diseases, using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also invo ...
of
western flower thrips (''Frankliniella occidentalis'')in greenhouse or indoor grown crops.
Description
The adult ''T. swirskii'' has a pear-shaped body and is about in length. It has four pairs of legs, the front pair of which points forward, and a small number of paired bristles on the unsegmented body. The colour varies with the diet, being pale yellow or tan when
thrips and
whitefly are eaten, and reddish on some other diets. It is difficult to distinguish one species of predatory mite from another in the field.
[
]
Distribution and habitat
''T. swirskii'' is native to the eastern Mediterranean region where its range includes Italy, Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, Israel and Egypt. It is used as an agent of biological control on crops such as apple, apricot, citrus, cotton and vegetables. It has been introduced to other parts of the world, where the climate is suitable, including much of Europe, northern Africa, North America, Argentina, China and Japan.
Biology
The life cycle consists of the egg stage, one larval stage, two nymphal stages and an adult stage. The eggs are laid on the undersides of leaves, usually on hairs near the junction of veins. They are oval, whitish and about long. They hatch into whitish, non-feeding, semi-transparent larvae with three pairs of legs. These soon develop into the four-legged nymphal stages, and then become adults, both nymphs and adults being predatory. The life cycle takes about five days at , and the mites can tolerate temperatures between , with 60 percent humidity.[
]
Host range
The host range includes the immature stages of western flower thrips, common blossom thrips
''Frankliniella schultzei'', the common blossom thrips or cotton thrips, is a species of thrips in the family Thripidae. It is found in many parts of the world and is an important pest insect in agriculture.
Description
The adult common blossom ...
, onion thrips
''Thrips tabaci'' is a species of very small insect in the genus ''Thrips'' in the order Thysanoptera. It is commonly known as the onion thrips, the potato thrips, the tobacco thrips or the cotton seedling thrips. It is an agricultural pest that ...
, melon thrips
''Thrips palmi'' is an insect from the genus ''Thrips'' in the order Thysanoptera. and chilli thrips
The chilli thripsThis is the more common international spelling of "chilli" outside of the United States. This spelling has been preserved in the common name for the insect by entomologists in the United States in deference to the body of literat ...
, as well as those of silverleaf whitefly and greenhouse whitefly. It can also consume Asian citrus psyllid
''Diaphorina citri'', the Asian citrus psyllid, is a sap-sucking, hemipteran bug in the family Psyllidae. It is one of two confirmed vectors of citrus greening disease. It has a wide distribution in southern Asia and has spread to other citrus g ...
, broad mites,pollen
Pollen is a powdery substance produced by seed plants. It consists of pollen grains (highly reduced microgametophytes), which produce male gametes (sperm cells). Pollen grains have a hard coat made of sporopollenin that protects the gametophyt ...
and plant exudates, although its fecundity and growth rates are reduced under these circumstances.[ Where two prey species are available, it will prey on the most available one. For example, in a 2016 research project on field grown cucumber plants, it was successful in controlling melon thrips on the leaves, but not common blossom thrips on the flowers of the same plants.]
Use in biocontrol
''Typhlodromips swirskii'' is used commercially in Europe and North America for biocontrol of whitefly and thrips in vegetables and ornamentals grown under cover. The cultured mites can be mixed with bran and sprinkled on the crop or spread by air blast. When multiple species of pest are present, it may effectively control one but not another; for example, in field grown cucumbers, it was found to control melon thrips on leaves, but failed to control common blossom thrips on flowers.[
]
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q30686888
Phytoseiidae
Animals described in 1962