Submit Manuscript

Journal of Entomology

Year: 2007 | Volume: 4 | Issue: 4 | Page No.: 275-278
Facebook Twitter Digg Reddit Linkedin StumbleUpon E-mail
Research Article

A Review of the Predatory Mite Anystis baccarum and its Role in Apple Orchard Pest Management Schemes in Northern Ireland

Andrew G.S. Cuthbertson and Archie K. Murchie

Search

INTRODUCTION

The development of orchard Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems have become an ever-increasing important concept throughout the world. Increasing public concern over the use of chemical insecticides on the environment and non-target species is continuing to drive the need to develop new and novel means of pest control in what is an ever increasingly competitive business. Within the United Kingdom (UK) and indeed internationally, much research regarding orchard IPM has centred on the predatory mites Typhlodromous pyri Scheuten and Zetzellia mali (Ewing). These mites have been shown to have the potential to control many orchard invertebrate pest species (Santos, 1976; Dicke et al., 1989; Croft et al., 1995). Studies have also shown T. pyri to have the potential to be incorporated along with insecticide treatments for the control of orchard pests (Cranham and Solomon, 1981). However, for the full implementation of IPM programmes, there is also the need to investigate the potential of other generalist predatory species and determine their potential for inclusion within such schemes.

Within the Bramley’s Seedling apple orchards in Northern Ireland both T. pyri and Z. mali occur, though, in smaller numbers compared to English apple orchards (Cuthbertson and Murchie, 2005a). Cuthbertson and Murchie (2005a) also determined that the generalist predatory mite Anystis baccarum (Linnaeus) was the most commonly occurring beneficial species within the Bramley orchards. However, upon consultation with Northern Irish apple growers it was determined that the presence of A. baccarum within the orchards was unknown and that many had actively sprayed chemical insecticides against this beneficial species, confusing it with the pest Panonychus ulmi (Koch) (Cuthbertson, 2004; Cuthbertson and Murchie, 2005b).

According to Oudemans (1937), Hooke in 1665 was the first person to find this species (Anystis baccarum) but he only referred to it as an insect mite. Linnaeus (1758) first named this species Acarus baccarum. It was renamed to Actineda baccarum by Stoll (1886) and was first called Anystis baccarum by Trägardh (1905) as cited in Meyer and Ueckermann (1987). This mite belongs to the order Prostigmata which contains both predators and plant feeding species and the subfamily Anystinae (Krantz, 1978). Mites of this genus are moderately large (1.0-1.5 mm in length), long-legged and bright orange/red (Krantz, 1978; Titov, 1987). Certain characteristics are listed by Meyer and Ueckermann (1987) from which A. baccarum may be identified.

Anystis baccarum is a cosmopolitan species capable of surviving a range of climatic conditions and occurs in numerous places including Australia, U.S.A, Europe, Juan Fernandez Islands (close to the coast of Chile), St. Helena, Faeroe Islands, Mexico, Japan and northern and southern Africa (Meyer and Ueckermann, 1987). Mites belonging to the genus Anystis have been reported to occur in Northern Ireland (MacQuillan, 1966) but no individual species had ever been identified until recently (Cuthbertson, 2004; Cuthbertson and Murchie, 2004a; Cuthbertson, 2005). At least three other species occur in the British Isles: Anystis salicinus (Linnaeus), Anystis cornigerum (Hermann) and Anystis cursorium (Gervais). Anystis agilis Banks has also been recorded in the British Isles (Dr. Anne Baker, British Natural History Museum, London, UK, personal communication).

Mites of the genus Anystis have been suggested as agents for bio-control of various pest arthropods (Gerson and Smiley, 1990) as they have been observed feeding on a variety of prey species (Baker, 1967). In England, A. baccarum can become abundant during times of aphid infestation in cereal fields (El Banhawy et al., 1993), whereas in New Zealand, A. baccarum plays an important role in the predation of tortricid larvae in apple orchards (Baker, 1983). Anystis baccarum was also found to increase in number during outbreaks of fruit tree red spider mite in Canadian peach orchards (Putman and Herne, 1966) and also to offer control of phytophagous mites in orchards and blackcurrant plantations in Russia (Lange et al., 1974; Livshits and Mitrofanov, 1981; Titov, 1987). Further research investigating the impact of A. baccarum upon economically important orchard invertebrate pests, such as, apple rust mite Aculus schlechtendali (Nalepa) and apple-grass aphid Rhopalosiphum insertum (Walker), proved that this species has the potential to form a valuable component of orchard IPM strategies (Cuthbertson et al., 2003a, b; Cuthbertson and Murchie, 2004b, 2005c, 2006a). Studies have also indicated that A. baccarum can show various levels of compatibility with chemical fungicides and pesticides commonly used within orchard ecosystems for the control of both fungal and invertebrate pests and diseases (Cuthbertson and Murchie, 2003, 2006b, c). Therefore, in the development of orchard IPM programmes, generalist predatory mites such as A. baccarum, must also be fully researched to determine their impact upon pest species and included within any such IPM system developed and implemented within Northern Irish Bramley’s Seedling apple orchards (Cuthbertson and Murchie, 2006d).

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Dr. Andrew G.S. Cuthbertson was funded by a Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland) Studentship.

REFERENCES

  1. Baker, W.V., 1967. Some observations on predation in an anystid mite. Entomol. Mon. Mag., 103: 58-59.
  2. Baker, R.T., 1983. Predation of leafroller larvae by spiders and mites. Weta, 6: 22-23.
  3. Cranham, J.E. and M.G. Solomon, 1981. Mite management in commercial apple orchards. Report East Malling Research Station for 1980, pp: 171-172.
  4. Croft, B.A., S.S. Kim and D.I. Kim, 1995. Leaf residency and interleaf movement of four phytoseiid mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on apple. Environ. Entomol., 24: 1344-1351.
    Direct Link
  5. Cuthbertson, A.G.S. and A.K. Murchie, 2003. The impact of fungicides to control apple scab (Venturia inaequalis) on the predatory mite Anystis baccarum and its prey Aculus schlechtendali (apple rust mite) in Northern Ireland Bramley orchards. Crop Prot., 22: 1125-1130.
    Direct Link
  6. Cuthbertson, A.G.S., A.C. Bell and A.K. Muchie, 2003. Impact of the predatory mite Anystis baccarum (Prostigmata: Anystidae) on apple rust mite Aculus schlechtendali (Prostigmata: Eriophyidae) populations in Northern Ireland Bramley orchards. Ann. Applied Biol., 142: 107-114.
    Direct Link
  7. Cuthbertson, A.G.S., C.C. Fleming and A.K. Murchie, 2003. Detection of Rhopalosiphum insertum (apple-grass aphid) predation by the predatory mite Anystis baccarum using molecular gut analysis. Agric. For. Entomol., 5: 219-225.
    Direct Link
  8. Cuthbertson, A.G.S., 2004. Unnecessary pesticide applications in Northern Ireland apple orchards due to mis-identification of a beneficial mite species. Res. J. Chem. Environ., 8: 77-78.
  9. Cuthbertson, A.G.S. and A.K. Murchie, 2004. The presence of Anystis baccarum (L.) in Northern Ireland Bramley apple orchards. Ir. Nat. J., 27: 465-467.
    Direct Link
  10. Cuthbertson, A.G.S. and A.K. Murchie, 2004. The phenology, oviposition and feeding rate of Anystis baccarum, a predatory mite in Bramley apple orchards in Northern Ireland. Exp. Applied Acarol., 34: 367-373.
    PubMedDirect Link
  11. Cuthbertson, A.G.S., 2005. Rediscovery of a predatory mite in Northern Irish apple orchards. Biodiversity News, 30: 29-29.
  12. Cuthbertson, A.G.S. and A.K. Murchie, 2005. Techniques for environmental monitoring of predatory fauna on branches of Bramley apple trees in Northern Ireland. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol., 2: 1-6.
    Direct Link
  13. Cuthbertson, A.G.S. and A.K. Murchie, 2005. European red spider mite-an environmental consequence of persistent chemical pesticide application. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol., 2: 287-290.
    Direct Link
  14. Cuthbertson, A.G.S. and A.K. Murchie, 2005. Anystis baccarum-an apple orchard assassin. Biologist, 52: 324-327.
  15. Cuthbertson, A.G.S. and A.K. Murchie, 2006. Environmental monitoring of economically important invertebrate pests in Bramley apple orchards in Northern Ireland. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Tech., 3: 1-7.
    Direct Link
  16. Cuthbertson, A.G.S. and A.K. Murchie, 2006. Environmental impact of an orchard winter wash and early season pesticide applications on both a beneficial and a pest mite species in Bramley apple orchards. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Tech., 3: 333-339.
    Direct Link
  17. Cuthbertson, A.G.S. and A.K. Murchie, 2006. A preliminary study into the direct effect of chemical pesticides on the predatory mite Anystis baccarum. J. Phys. Sci., 18: 177-180.
  18. Cuthbertson, A.G.S. and A.K. Murchie, 2006. Integrated pest management in Bramley's Seedling apple orchards in Northern Ireland. Biol. Stud., 28: 103-107.
    Direct Link
  19. Dicke, M., M.W. Sabelis and H. Van-den-Berg, 1989. Does prey preference change as a result of prey species being presented together? Analysis of prey selection by the predatory mite Typhlodromus pyri (Acarina:Phytoseiidae). Oecologia, 81: 302-309.
  20. El-Banhawy, E.M., N. Carter and I.R. Wynne, 1993. Preliminary observations on the population development of anystid and free-living mesostigmatic mites in a cereal field in Southern England. Exp. Applied Acarol., 17: 541-549.
    Direct Link
  21. Gerson, U. and R.L. Smiley, 1990. Acarine Biocontrol Agents: An Illustrated Key and Manual. Chapman and Hall, London, UK., pp: 174.
  22. Krantz, G.W., 1978. A Manual of Acarology. 2nd Edn., Oregon State University Book Stores, USA., pp: 509.
  23. Lange, A.B., E.M. Drozdovskii and L.M. Bushkovskaya, 1974. Anystid mites-effective predators of small phytophagous pests. Zashchita Rastenii, 1: 26-28.
  24. Linnaeus, C., 1758. Systema Naturae. 10th Edn., L. Salvii, Holmiae.
  25. Livshits, I.Z. and V.I. Mitrofanov, 1981. Beneficial insects and mites in fruit orchards. Zashchita Rastenii, 6: 49-52.
  26. MacQuillan, M.J., 1966. The mite fauna of a neglected Northern Ireland apple orchard. Ent. Mon. Mag., 102: 153-155.
  27. Meyer, M.K.P.S. and E.A. Ueckermann, 1987. A taxonomic study of some Anystidae (Acari: Prostigmata). Republic of South Africa Department of Agriculture and Water Supply, Entomology Memoir No. 68, pp: 37.
  28. Oudemans, A.C., 1937. Namensanderung. Arch. Fur Naturgeschichte (N.F), 6: 662-662.
  29. Putman, W.L. and D.H.C. Herne, 1966. The role of predators and other biotic agents in regulating the population density of phytophagous mites in Ontario peach orchards. Can. Entomol., 98: 808-820.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  30. Santos, M.A., 1976. Evaluation of Zetzellia mali as a predator of Panonychus ulmi and Aculus schlechtendali. Environ. Entomol., 5: 187-191.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  31. Stoll, O., 1886. Biologia Centrali-Americana Zoologia Arachnida Acaridae. Taylor and Francis, London, UK., pp: 1-53.
  32. Titov, D.A., 1987. Beneficial insects in the orchard. Zashchita Rastenii, 2: 56-57.
  33. Tragardh, I., 1905. Acariden aus agypten und dem Sudan. Results of the Swedish Zoological Expedition to Egypt and the White Nile. Part II, pp: 1-124.

Search

Related Articles

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *