Potential for the Postharvest Biological Control of <i>Phthorimaea</i> <i>operculella</i> (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) by <i>Blattisocius</i> <i>tarsalis</i> (Mesostigmata, Blattisociidae)
Jorge Gavara,
Ana Piedra-Buena,
Estrella Hernandez-Suarez,
Manuel Gamez,
Tomas Cabello,
Juan R. Gallego
Affiliations
Jorge Gavara
Departamento de Protección Vegetal, Instituto Canario de Investigaciones Agrarias, Finca Isamar, Ctra. de El Boqueron, s/n, ES38201 San Cristobal de la Laguna, Spain
Ana Piedra-Buena
Departamento de Protección Vegetal, Instituto Canario de Investigaciones Agrarias, Finca Isamar, Ctra. de El Boqueron, s/n, ES38201 San Cristobal de la Laguna, Spain
Estrella Hernandez-Suarez
Departamento de Protección Vegetal, Instituto Canario de Investigaciones Agrarias, Finca Isamar, Ctra. de El Boqueron, s/n, ES38201 San Cristobal de la Laguna, Spain
Manuel Gamez
Research Centre for Mediterranean Intensive Agrosystems and Agri-Food Biotechnology (CIAMBITAL), Agri-Food Campus of International Excellence (CEIA3), University of Almeria, Ctra. de Sacramento, s/n, ES04120 Cañada de San Urbano(La), Spain
Tomas Cabello
Research Centre for Mediterranean Intensive Agrosystems and Agri-Food Biotechnology (CIAMBITAL), Agri-Food Campus of International Excellence (CEIA3), University of Almeria, Ctra. de Sacramento, s/n, ES04120 Cañada de San Urbano(La), Spain
Juan R. Gallego
Research Centre for Mediterranean Intensive Agrosystems and Agri-Food Biotechnology (CIAMBITAL), Agri-Food Campus of International Excellence (CEIA3), University of Almeria, Ctra. de Sacramento, s/n, ES04120 Cañada de San Urbano(La), Spain
Phthorimaea operculella is one of the most important pests causing damage to stored potatoes. In this work, the effect of temperature (at 10, 20 and 30 °C) on the predation of pest eggs by Blattisocius tarsalis was studied in the laboratory. In addition, the effect of three predatory release rates on two pest densities was studied under microcosm conditions. The results showed that B. tarsalis maintains its predatory capacity at low temperatures (10 °C), obtaining an efficiency of 49.66 ± 5.06% compared to the control. In turn, at 20 °C, a maximum efficacy of 78.17 ± 4.77% was achieved, very similar to that presented at 30 °C (75.57 ± 4.34%). Under microcosm conditions and at low pest density (10 eggs/container), the mortality due to the mite was 96.97 ± 3.03%, 81.82 ± 8.84%, and 84.85 ± 8.30%, respectively, for the three predatory release rates (5, 10 or 20 mites/container). At the high infestation level, the pest control ranged from 61.54 ± 9.21% to 92.31 ± 2.74%, depending on the predatory release rate. The results obtained show that B. tarsalis could be a relevant control agent against P. operculella under non-refrigerated potato storage conditions, as well as in the first stages of their storage under refrigerated conditions.
