Monday, November 15, 2004
0094

A protocol for using the mite brushing machine (Leedom Industries) for measuring levels of Willamette spider mite (Eotetranychus willamettei McGregor) and their predators (Phytoseiidae) on winegrapes

Craig W. Macmillan, cwmacmil@calpoly.edu and Michael J. Costello, mcostell@calpoly.edu. California Polytechnic State University, Horticulture & Crop Science, San Luis Obispo, CA

Enumerative methods for estimating field populations of arthropod pests are accurate and precise, but time-consuming. The Mite Brushing Machine is a technology that can reduce the time required to obtain either absolute counts or estimates of arthropods on leaves from samples. Although this technology was investigated and recommended as a useful tool for research and commercial pest management by research entomologists and the USDA, little work to demonstrate the validity of this technique has been performed since the 1950’s.

The areas of this investigation include the number of passes through the brushes to remove all arthropods from the leaf, distribution of arthropods on the collection plate, a comparison to direct counts of arthropods on leaves, accuracy and precision of various scanning methods using a dissecting scope, the accuracy and precision of this technique compared to traditional binomial sampling for arthropod pests on grapes, and an analysis of cost-benefits based on the time required to perform the protocol compared to direct counting and binomial sampling.



Species 1: ACARI Tetranychidae Eotetranychus willamettei (Willamette spider mite)
Species 2: ACARI Phytoseiidae
Keywords: sampling, pest management

See more of Ca4. Biological Control, Cd1. Behavior and Ecology, Ea1. Extension, and F1. Crop Protection Entomology
See more of Student Competition TMP

See more of The 2004 ESA Annual Meeting and Exhibition
COMMENTS AND CORRECTIONS

  • From Germain George, mite project, Research and Development, February 24, 2006
    Dear Sir, I am in need of a method or machine that can be used to rapidly and efficiently count mite samples found on coconut palms, please supply me with all the relevant information as soon as possible. Thank you Lab. Tec.

  • From Dr. Vincent Sudoi, Entomologist/ Head Plant Protection Department, Tea Research Fondation of Kenya, February 27, 2007
    I would like to enquire about the availability and the current price quotation of a mite brushing machine(Leedom Industries) for enumeration of mites on tea leaves. We bougth one long time ago and would like to have one for our sub-station. Your prompt responce is highly appreciated.