Mass breeding technology of the predatory mite phytoseiulus by the box method and its application in plant protection

Abstract

The predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot belongs to the Phytoseiidae family of the free-living gamasid mite subfamily Parasitiformes. Under the natural conditions, phytoseiulus lives in warm coastal areas of Chile, Algeria, Lebanon, Italy, southern France, and Australia. In 1958, it was accidentally imported on orchid roots from Chile to Germany. From where it has already been specially delivered to many countries, including the former Soviet Union. In film shelters, greenhouses, winter gardens and in indoor conditions on windowsills, phytoseiulus is successfully used with a very dangerous pest – spider mite. It is also used in the open ground on strawberries, berry bushes during the period when night temperatures are not less than 10-12 ˚С. The classic technology of phytoseiulus mass breeding in industrial biological laboratories includes a number of technological processes: preparation of a room for mites breeding; cultivation of fodder plants for spider mites; breeding of spider mites; breeding of phytoseiulus; collecting and storage of phytoseiulus. Mass breeding of phytoseiulus is carried out year-round on spider mites, which are propagated on plants of soybeans, beans, fodder beans, corn, cucumber, etc. In this article, the authors ground the box method of mass breeding of phytoseiulus.