Abstract
Recent reports of the biocontrolpotential of the mite species Acarophenaxlacunatus (Cross & Krantz) (Prostigmata:Acarophenacidae) and the lack of biologicalstudies on this regulatory agent led to thepresent study carried out under laboratoryconditions. The objective of the investigationwas to assess the host range of A. lacunatus,so far only reported as egg parasite ofRhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera:Bostrichidae). Four Coleoptera species ofstored cereals were used: R. dominica,Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Tenebrionidae),Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens)(Laemophloeidae) and Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) (Cucujidae). The highest rates of eggparasitism were observed on R. dominica and T.castaneum, leading to a significant decrease ofpopulations of both species and reduced wheatweight loss. A. lacunatus was also able toparasitize eggs of C. ferrugineus, but not ofO. surinamensis. These results indicate abroader host range of A. lacunatus thaninitially suspected and also strengthen itspossibility of use in integrated pestmanagement programs in storage environments.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brower, J.H., L. Smith, P.V. Vail and P.W. Flinn, 1996. Biological control. In: Bh. Subramanyam and D.W. Hagstrum (eds), Integrated Management of Insects in Stored Products. Marcel Dekker, New York. pp. 223–286.
Bruce, W.A. and G.L. LeCato, 1979. Pyemotes tritici: Potential biological control agent of stored-product insects. Rec. Adv. Acarol. 1: 213–220.
Cross, E.A. and G.W. Krantz, 1964. Two new species of the genus Acarophenax Newstead and Duvall 1918 (Acarina: Pyemotidae). Acarologia 6: 287–295.
Faroni, L.R.D'A., 1992. Biologia y Control del Gorgojo de los Granos Rhyzopertha dominica (F.). D.Sc. Thesis, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
Faroni, L.R.D'A., R.N.C. Guedes and A.L. Matioli, 2000. Potential of Acarophenax lacunatus (Prostigmata: Acarophenacidae) as a biological control agent of Rhyzopertha dominica (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae). J. Stored Prod. Res. 36: 55–63.
Faroni, L.R.D'A., R.N.C. Guedes and A.L. Matioli, 2001. Effect of temperature on development and population growth of Acarophenax lacunatus (Cross & Krantz) (Prostigmata: Acarophenacidae) on Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae). Biocontrol Sci. Technol. 11: 5–12.
Goldarazena, A., R. Ochoa and R. Jordana, 1999. Revision of the genus Paradactylium Mahunka (Acari: Heterostigmata). Internat. J. Acarol. 25: 91–99.
Goldarazena, A., R. Ochoa, R. Jordana and B.M. OConnor, 2001. Revision of the genus Adactylium Cross (Acari: Heterostigmata: Acarophenacidae), mites associated with thrips (Thysanoptera). Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 103: 473–516.
Guedes, R.N.C., 1991. Manejo integrado para a proteção de grãos armazenados contra insetos. Rev. Bras. Armaz. 15: 3–48.
Haines, C.P., 1981. Laboratory studies on the role of an egg predator, Blattisocius tarsalis (Berlese) (Acari: Ascidae), in relation to the natural control of Ephestia cautella (Walter) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in warehouses. Bull. Entomol. Res. 71: 555–574.
Harein, P.K.M. and R. Davies, 1992. Control of stored-grain insects. In: D.B. Sauer (ed), Storage of Cereal Grains and Their Products. American Association of Cereal Chemists, St. Paul, MN, USA. pp. 491–534.
Howarth, F.G., 1991. Environmental impacts of classical biological control. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 36: 485–509.
Moser, J.C., 1975. Biosystematics of the straw icthmite with special reference to nomenclature and dermatology. Trans. Royal Entomol. Soc. London 122: 185–191.
Plarre, R., K. Lieber, W. Burkholder and J. Phillips, 1999. Host and host instar preference of Apanteles carpatus (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) a possible parasitoid for biological control of clothes moths (Lepidoptera: Tineidae). J. Stored Prod. Res. 35: 197–213.
SAS Institute, 1989. SAS/STAT User's Guide, Version 6. SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA.
Schöller, M., S. Prozell, A.G. Al-Kirshi and C. Reichmuth, 1997. Towards biological control as a major component of integrated pest management in stored product protection. J. Stored Prod. Res. 33: 81–97.
Simberloff, D. and P. Stiling, 1996. How risky is biological control? Ecology 77: 1965–1974.
Sinha, R.N., 1995. The stored grain ecosystem. In: D.S. Jayas, N.D.G. White and W.E. Muir (eds), Stored Grain Ecosystem. Marcel Dekker, New York. pp. 1–33.
Steidle, J.L.M., D. Rees and E.J. Wright, 2001. Assessment of Australian Trichogramma species (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) as control agents of stored product moths. J. Stored Prod. Res. 37: 263–275.
Steinkraus, D.C. and E.A. Cross, 1993. Description and life history of Acarophenax Mahundai, n.sp. (Acari: Tarsonemina: Acarophenacidae), an egg parasite of the lesser mealworm (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). An. Entomol. Soc. Am. 86: 239–244.
Subramanyam, Bh. and D.W. Hagstrum, 1996. Integrated Management of Insects in Stored Products. Marcel Dekker, New York.
White, N.D.G. and J.G. Leesch, 1996. Chemical control. In: Bh. Subramanyam and D.W. Hagstrum (eds), Integrated Management of Insects in Stored Products. Marcel Dekker, New York. pp. 287–330.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Oliveira, C.R.F., Faroni, L.R.D., Guedes, R.N.C. et al. Parasitism by the mite Acarophenax lacunatus on beetle pests of stored products. BioControl 48, 503–513 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025755528951
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025755528951