<strong><span>Prey preference pattern of <em>Gaeolaelaps aculeifer</em> (Acari: Laelapidae) on fungus gnats, <em>Lycoriella auripila</em> (Diptera: Sciaridae); a step toward efficient release</span></strong>

Lycoriella auripila Winnertz (Diptera: Sciaridae) is one of the most serious pests of mushroom cultures, Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Imbach. Damage of this pest can result in substantial yield losses directly and indirectly. Gaeolaelaps aculeifer Canestrini as a predator suppresses population of soil...

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Main Authors: Faeze Tavoosi Ajvad, Hossein Madadi, Doostmorad Zafari, Mohammad Khanjani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Acarological Society of Iran 2016-10-01
Series:Persian Journal of Acarology
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Online Access:https://www.biotaxa.org/pja/article/view/22613
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author Faeze Tavoosi Ajvad
Hossein Madadi
Doostmorad Zafari
Mohammad Khanjani
author_facet Faeze Tavoosi Ajvad
Hossein Madadi
Doostmorad Zafari
Mohammad Khanjani
author_sort Faeze Tavoosi Ajvad
collection DOAJ
description Lycoriella auripila Winnertz (Diptera: Sciaridae) is one of the most serious pests of mushroom cultures, Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Imbach. Damage of this pest can result in substantial yield losses directly and indirectly. Gaeolaelaps aculeifer Canestrini as a predator suppresses population of soil-dwelling pests e.g. mites, nematodes and fungi, and todays it has been considered as a commercial biological control agent against eggs and larvae of sciarid flies. Prey preference of natural enemies is one of the components of predation that should be taken into account to choose the exact releasing time against appropriate prey stages. In this study, the prey preference and predation rate of G. aculeifer were investigated at 23±1 °C, 60 ± 5% R.H. and a photoperiod of 0: 24 (L: D) h under laboratory conditions. Results showed that life stages of prey influenced prey preference, as females of G. aculeifer killed 5.66 ± 0.33 and 2.33 ± 0.21 of 2nd and 3rd instar larvae of L. auripila respectively. Accordingly, Manly's index of preference was 0.697 ± 0.0377 and 0.303 ± 0.0377, respectively. This difference might be attributed to prey size difference between 2nd (1.36 ± 0.08 mm) and 3rd (2.52 ± 0.10mm) sciarid larval instars. Moreover, In terms of obtained results, proper timing of releasing predatory mite reduces sciarid fly population efficiently. It has been recommended that releasing of G. aculeifer females prior to emergence of 3rd instar larvae of L. auripila would suppress the sciarid flies population densities in mushroom production.
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spelling doaj-art-e7be508c175044da98638cc0f9d53ecc2025-08-20T03:12:27ZengAcarological Society of IranPersian Journal of Acarology2251-81692016-10-015410.22073/pja.v5i4.22613<strong><span>Prey preference pattern of <em>Gaeolaelaps aculeifer</em> (Acari: Laelapidae) on fungus gnats, <em>Lycoriella auripila</em> (Diptera: Sciaridae); a step toward efficient release</span></strong>Faeze Tavoosi Ajvad0Hossein Madadi1Doostmorad Zafari2Mohammad Khanjani3PhD. Candidate of Agricultural Entomology, Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University. Hamedan,IranDepartment of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu Ali-Sina University, Hamedan, IranDepartment of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu Ali-Sina University, Hamedan, IranDepartment of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu Ali-Sina University, Hamedan, Iran Lycoriella auripila Winnertz (Diptera: Sciaridae) is one of the most serious pests of mushroom cultures, Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Imbach. Damage of this pest can result in substantial yield losses directly and indirectly. Gaeolaelaps aculeifer Canestrini as a predator suppresses population of soil-dwelling pests e.g. mites, nematodes and fungi, and todays it has been considered as a commercial biological control agent against eggs and larvae of sciarid flies. Prey preference of natural enemies is one of the components of predation that should be taken into account to choose the exact releasing time against appropriate prey stages. In this study, the prey preference and predation rate of G. aculeifer were investigated at 23±1 °C, 60 ± 5% R.H. and a photoperiod of 0: 24 (L: D) h under laboratory conditions. Results showed that life stages of prey influenced prey preference, as females of G. aculeifer killed 5.66 ± 0.33 and 2.33 ± 0.21 of 2nd and 3rd instar larvae of L. auripila respectively. Accordingly, Manly's index of preference was 0.697 ± 0.0377 and 0.303 ± 0.0377, respectively. This difference might be attributed to prey size difference between 2nd (1.36 ± 0.08 mm) and 3rd (2.52 ± 0.10mm) sciarid larval instars. Moreover, In terms of obtained results, proper timing of releasing predatory mite reduces sciarid fly population efficiently. It has been recommended that releasing of G. aculeifer females prior to emergence of 3rd instar larvae of L. auripila would suppress the sciarid flies population densities in mushroom production. https://www.biotaxa.org/pja/article/view/22613Agaricus bisporusbiocontrolManly’s indexpredation ratesciarid fly
spellingShingle Faeze Tavoosi Ajvad
Hossein Madadi
Doostmorad Zafari
Mohammad Khanjani
<strong><span>Prey preference pattern of <em>Gaeolaelaps aculeifer</em> (Acari: Laelapidae) on fungus gnats, <em>Lycoriella auripila</em> (Diptera: Sciaridae); a step toward efficient release</span></strong>
Persian Journal of Acarology
Agaricus bisporus
biocontrol
Manly’s index
predation rate
sciarid fly
title <strong><span>Prey preference pattern of <em>Gaeolaelaps aculeifer</em> (Acari: Laelapidae) on fungus gnats, <em>Lycoriella auripila</em> (Diptera: Sciaridae); a step toward efficient release</span></strong>
title_full <strong><span>Prey preference pattern of <em>Gaeolaelaps aculeifer</em> (Acari: Laelapidae) on fungus gnats, <em>Lycoriella auripila</em> (Diptera: Sciaridae); a step toward efficient release</span></strong>
title_fullStr <strong><span>Prey preference pattern of <em>Gaeolaelaps aculeifer</em> (Acari: Laelapidae) on fungus gnats, <em>Lycoriella auripila</em> (Diptera: Sciaridae); a step toward efficient release</span></strong>
title_full_unstemmed <strong><span>Prey preference pattern of <em>Gaeolaelaps aculeifer</em> (Acari: Laelapidae) on fungus gnats, <em>Lycoriella auripila</em> (Diptera: Sciaridae); a step toward efficient release</span></strong>
title_short <strong><span>Prey preference pattern of <em>Gaeolaelaps aculeifer</em> (Acari: Laelapidae) on fungus gnats, <em>Lycoriella auripila</em> (Diptera: Sciaridae); a step toward efficient release</span></strong>
title_sort strong span prey preference pattern of em gaeolaelaps aculeifer em acari laelapidae on fungus gnats em lycoriella auripila em diptera sciaridae a step toward efficient release span strong
topic Agaricus bisporus
biocontrol
Manly’s index
predation rate
sciarid fly
url https://www.biotaxa.org/pja/article/view/22613
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