How to collect and rear efficiently insect natural enemies of spider mites?

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26450070
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Plant protection science
• Research Institution: National Agriculture and Food Research Organization
• Principal Investigator: SHIMODA Takeshi 国立研究開発法人農業・食品産業技術総合研究機構, 中央農業研究センター 虫・鳥獣害研究領域, 上級研究員 (20370512)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 昆虫 / 生態学 / 農学 / ハダニ / 天敵昆虫

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Indigenous insect predators (Scolothrips takahashii, Feltiella acarisuga, Oligota spp., and Stethorus spp.) are important natural enemies of pest spider mites in fruits and vegetables. However, little is known about their ecology in orchards and other agricultural fields, because we cannot investigate efficiently these tiny insect predators (approx. 1 mm in body length). Further, few laboratory studies have made due to the difficulty of their efficient rearing. To solve the first issue, I have established a simple plant trap for collecting insect predators, by using potted komatsuna plants (Brassica rapa) infested with spider mites Tetranychus urticae. By using this new plant-prey combination, I have also established a simple method for rearing the insect predators in large containers. These methods will contribute further field and laboratory studies to clarify the importance of insect predators as biocontrol agents of spider mites.

Free Research Field

農学