Amblyseius andersoni

The predatory mite Amblyseius andersony (the synonym is Typhlodromus potentillae) belongs to the family Phytoseiidae, the order Parasitiformes, the division Acari. It is widely spread in Europe and North America. The mite is a predator of different species of phytophage mites including Tetranychus spp, Panonychus and Eirophidae spp.

The predatory mite is beige. Its size is less than 1 mm. The female of the mite lays several eggs every day on the underside of a leaf near its veins (approximately 35 eggs for the whole life cycle). Having hatched from the egg the young larva doesn't feed. It has 6 legs only. With in the following 2 nymph stages it has 8 legs like an adult. The nymph seems smaller than the adult, and metamorphoses are absent. Development from an egg to an adult takes 8–11 days at 20–25°C. The adult Amblyseius andersoni lives about 3 weeks. The predator is able to consume alternative food sources (this species is a polyphage): young larvae of thrips, flower pollen, the sugary excretions of pests, fungi.

Application

Amblyseius andersoni is applied as a predator of spider mites on fruit-berry and ornamental-flower crops. The most effective is the application of acariphage by means of preventive releasing if pest population is not considerable. It is better to use A.andersoni together with other specialized predatory agents. The invasion of the predator is realized under the low and the average density of pest population in amounts of 0.25–1 individual per 1 m². In the focuses of pest populations the rate of application is increased. If necessary the invasions are repeated.

Advantages

• a wide range of prey species;
• the possibility of application on flower-ornamental and fruit crops;
• poliphagy;
• he activity of the predator in a wide temperature range.

Storage and transportation

• keep out the influence of sunlight;
• transport and store at a temperature of 10–15°C;
• apply within 18 hours since the moment of reception.