Potential for the Postharvest Biological Control of <i>Phthorimaea</i> <i>operculella</i> (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) by <i>Blattisocius</i> <i>tarsalis</i> (Mesostigmata, Blattisociidae)
2021
Jorge Gavara | Ana Piedra-Buena | Estrella Hernandez-Suarez | Manuel Gamez | Tomas Cabello | Juan R. Gallego
<i>Phthorimaea operculella</i> 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 <i>Blattisocius tarsalis</i> 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 <i>B. tarsalis</i> 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 <i>B. tarsalis</i> could be a relevant control agent against <i>P. operculella</i> under non-refrigerated potato storage conditions, as well as in the first stages of their storage under refrigerated conditions.
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