[Gardens Keeper]

Target:

Two Spotted Spider Mites
(TSSM), Tetranychidaeprefers mild temp (50-80° F), high humidity (60% RH+), ideal 70°-85° F. (20-30° C.) at 70% RHhigher humidity, misting, favors predator over pestaggressive and economical predator for mite clean up,does best on dense, low growing plantsnot in hot greenhouses
not in dry interior valleys

Cornell University:

https://www.biocontrol.entomology.cor...toseiulus.html

University of Florida:

https://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/lso/spmite/b853a3.htm

FEEDING HABITS

All developmental stages of the twospotted spider mite are eaten by the adult female P. persimilis. The predator's larval stage does not feed, but the protonymph and deutonymph will feed on the egg, larva, and protonymph stages of spider mites (Takafuji and Chant, 1976). The number of each stage eaten depends on the density of prey and predator, temperature, humidity, stage of predator feeding and which prey stages are available for it to feed upon (Shaw, 1983). Phytoseiulus persimilis depends almost entirely on animals as food (Ashihara et al. 1978, Chant 1961, and Dosse 1958). Ashihara et al. (1978) reported that this predator fed, reproduced, and completed development only on mites in the subfamily Tetranychinae. However, Chant (1961) observed P. persimilis feeding on young thrips. P. persimilis is also cannibalistic when no other food (i.e., spider mites) is available (Dosse, 1958; Laing, 1968). Free- standing water (for the predator to drink) will, in the absence of food, increase survival by 23% (Mori and Chant, 1961b; Ashihara, et al., 1978). Adult females, when fed on honey or a 10% sucrose solution, can survive at least four times longer compared to females being fed on water alone (Ashihara et al., 1978). However, neither sucrose nor free water would promote reproduction. Ashihara et al. (1978) determined that females would not reproduce on a diet of honey, but if they were removed from the honey diet after 35 days and fed spider mite eggs they could achieve their normal reproductive potential.

Abstract
Phytoseiulus persimilis is commercially mass-reared for use as a biological control agent for spider mites, primarily Tetranychus urticae, and cold storage is a potentially valuable aspect of mass-production. Cold storage ofP. persimilis in empty containers was found to be unsatisfactory, but provision of moisture during cold storage greatly increased survival. Provision of food further increased survival even though the mites were stored at temperatures below their threshold for development of 11°C. When food was provided, survival at 7.5°C was 97% after 4 weeks and 80% after 6 weeks. Subsequent longevity and fecundity of mites that survived 8 weeks at 7.5°C was comparable to mites taken directly from mass-rearing cultures. Survival of mites packaged in bran or vermiculite and held at 6°C for 10 days ranged from 75% to 85% and was not decreased by agitating the containers to simulate shipping. However, survival of mites held in bran or vermiculite at 5°C or 8°C for 4 weeks was poor, ranging from 0–19%, due to growth of mould in the media. Phytoseiulus persimilis can be successfully stored for 4 to 6 weeks in containers provisioned only with food and moisture; granular media used for distribution of the mites should be added just prior to shipping.

https://www.springerlink.com/content/lkvh66k708328u22/

[Neo 420]

Great find!!!!!!