BACKGROUNDPhototactic behavior and oviposition site selection in phytoseiid predators are crucial for understanding their ecological interactions and optimizing their use in agricultural pest management. This study investigated the phototactic responses and oviposition preferences of seven phytoseiid species of proven or potential importance in biocontrol: Amblydromalus limonicus (Garman & McGregor), Amblyseius herbicolus (Chant), Amblyseius lentiginosus Denmark and Schicha, Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes, Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans), Neoseiulus womersleyi (Schicha), and Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias‐Henriot. We hypothesized that these phytoseiid predators use light as a cue, with their phototactic behavior aligning with their respective lifestyles.RESULTSBy presenting adults of these species with two choices (i.e. light and dark) in acrylic arenas, we found that P. persimilis exhibited a significant preference for light. In contrast, other species showed no phototactic preference. The phototactic preferences were similar between genders of all six sexually reproducing species tested in this study. Furthermore, the oviposition site preferences varied significantly among species. Gravid females of As. herbicolus, N. cucumeris, N. womersleyi, and P. persimilis preferred dark sites for egg laying, whereas Ad. limonicus and As. lentiginosus showed no light preference, and N. barkeri preferred light for oviposition.CONCLUSIONThis study highlights the importance of light as an ecological factor influencing phytoseiid behavior and suggests that phototactic and oviposition preferences are adaptations to specific environmental niches. These findings have practical implications for enhancing the effectiveness of phytoseiids in pest management. Further research should investigate the mechanisms driving phototactic responses and light perception in these phytoseiid predators. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

中文翻译：

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七种 Phytoseiidae （Acari： Mesostigmata） 的趋光行为和产卵


背景植物科捕食者的策略行为和产卵位置选择对于了解它们的生态相互作用和优化它们在农业害虫管理中的使用至关重要。这项研究调查了七种在生物控制中具有已证实或潜在重要性的植物的趋光反应和产卵偏好：Amblydromalus limonicus （Garman & McGregor）， Amblyseius herbicolus （Chant）， Amblyseius lentiginosus Denmark and Schicha， Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes， Neoseiulus cucumeris （Oudemans）， Neoseiulus womersleyi （Schicha）， 和 Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot。我们假设这些植物科捕食者以光为线索，它们的趋光行为与各自的生活方式一致。结果通过在丙烯酸舞台中为这些物种的成虫提供两种选择（即浅色和深色），我们发现 P. persimilis 表现出对光的显着偏好。相比之下，其他物种没有表现出趋光偏好。本研究中测试的所有六种有性繁殖物种的性别之间的趋光偏好相似。此外，不同物种的产卵地点偏好差异很大。As. herbicolus、N. cucumeris、N. womersleyi 和 P. persimilis 的妊娠雌性喜欢在黑暗的地方产卵，而 Ad. limonicus 和 As. lentiginosus 则不偏光，而 N. barkeri 喜欢光产卵。结论该研究强调了光作为影响植物科动物行为的生态因素的重要性，并表明趋光和产卵偏好是对特定环境生态位的适应。这些发现对提高植物病虫害管理的有效性具有实际意义。 进一步的研究应该调查驱动这些植物科捕食者的趋光反应和光感知的机制。© 2024 化工学会.