The mold mite, Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acari: Acaridae), in ham facilities: Population dynamics and response to temperature and fumigation treatments

The 1987 Montreal Protocol was designed to protect earth’s ozone layer by phasing out substances believed to deplete the ozone. Methyl bromide, the most effective fumigant for controlling the mold mite, Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acari: Acaridae), in ham processing facilities, is considered a serious ozone-depletor. Hence it is imperative to develop alternatives to this fumigant. Studies on population dynamics of any pest are important for developing IPM and control methods. Interestingly, there has been no direct work toward modern IPM for the mite in the dry-cured ham industry.  By using food-baited traps made using disposable Petri dishes and a dog food-based lure, the spatio-temporal distribution patterns of the mold mite in two dry cured ham processing facilities, was studied. Contour mapping of trap catches from Facility A followed a pattern of sharp decline after fumigation treatments and then a gradual increase until the next fumigation.  Statistical analyses of results from Facility B indicated that indoor temperature did not seem to have a significant effect on the number of mites captured in traps - at the lowest temperature, 11.77°C (F_{1, 18} = 1.13, p>0.05) and highest temperature of 28.69°C (F_{1, 18} =  0.30, p>0.05) - during the period reported. Findings from this study provide some of the information needed to develop improved monitoring and other management programs especially when the usage of methyl bromide is phased out of all industries by 2015.