Effect of orchard management practices on the occurrence of phytophagous mites and their natural enemies was studied in 14 apple orchards in Kyungbuk Province, Korea during the season of 2002. Fourteen orchards were selected as conventionally managed orchards, IPM orchards, and abandoned orchards. Leaf sample (100 leaf/orchard) and ground vegetation sample (ap. d.w. 30g) were taken monthly. Focus was given to the phytophagous mites-predatory mites complex; Tetranychus urticae, Panonychus ulmi, rust mites, tydeid mites, tarsonemids, and their predatory mites, as well. There was general trends found that P. ulmi was becoming as important as T. urticae in apple and that where predatory mites were found at least in the mid of the season, phytophagous mites never increased to the level which can cause economic damage. Phytoseiid and stigmaeid mites were the main groups of mite predators. There was significant difference in predatory mite fauna between canopy and ground vegetation. Thirteen species of phytoseiid mites were found from apple orchards; Amblyseius womersleyi Schicha was the dominant followed by A. orientalis and A. rademacheri, but A. rademacheri rarely moved to the apple canopy. Agistemus terminalis was one of the dominant predatory mite but only where no chemicals influence. Many cases indicated that rust mites outbreak in early season provided favored condition of predatory mite increase. Implication and further study area are discussed.
Species 1: Acari Tetranychidae Tetranychus urticae (twospotted spider mite)
Species 2: Acari Phytoseiidae Amblyseius womersleyi
Species 3: Acari Gamasida
Keywords: species diversity, apple
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