Amblyseius californicus

Amblyseius californicus belongs to the family Phytoseiidae, the order Parasitioformes. The synonyms in accordance with taxonomic classification are Neoseiulus californicus, Typhlodromus californicus. As an acariphage it is often used for the control of the two-spot spider mite (Tetranychus urticae), the carminic mite (Tetranychus cinnabarius), the cyclamen mite (Phytonemus pallidus) and some other phytophage mites on various crops in moderate and subtropical regions of the world. In case of the absence of the main food source it is able to feed and to reproduce population using alternative sources (different small insects including thrips and plant pollen). But the consumption of alternative food causes the decrease of reproduction.

The adult female is approximately 0.1 mm in length, oval. The male is a little smaller than the female. The adult individual is semitransparent, pale-orange, peachy or pink. The egg is spherical, approximately 0.4 mm in length, pale-white. The life cycle of the predator consists of 5 stages: an egg, a larva, a pronymph, a deutonymph and an adult. The whole time of reproduction at 21°C is almost 10 days, at 30°C it decreases to 5 days. These indexes for the main prey of the acariphage — Tetranychus urticae amount to 16 and 7 days accordingly. The life span of the predator is 20 days. The female lays from 2 to 4 eggs per day. The acariphage prefers to consume the eggs and the nymphs of spider mites. During a day at a temperature of 26°C one individual of the predator devours on an average 11.6 eggs and nymphs of the pest. The female is able to kill 156 mites for the whole period of life.

Application

Amblyseius californicus can be applied on various vegetables and ornamental crops in glass-covered ground against different species of mites (for example against two-spotted spider mites, cyclamen mites, fruit-tree red mites and etc.). The application of Amblyseius californicus is the most effective together with Phytoseiulus persimilis in the form of preventive invasions. Prophylactic colonization is made every 2–3 weeks in amounts of 5–10 individuals per 1 m². If the density of pest population is high the application of this acariphage as the main predator is not very effective because of its low reproductive ability. In case of the high density of pest population the additional invasion of A.californicus to the main predator Phytoseiulus persimilis is realized in amounts of 15–30 individuals per 1 m². If necessary invasions are repeated.

The acariphage is active in a thermal range of 8–35°C and can be applied in outdoor planting. It is loyal to a wide range of relative air humidity (40–80%). The predator is resistant to many synthetic pesticides (acaricides, insecticides). These characteristics allow the acariphage to be used when it is observed the decrease of Phytoseiulus persimilis activity under unfavorable conditions (summer months).

Advantages

• long activity because of possibility to consume alternative food;
• the consumption of different species of phytophage mites;
• the absence of cannibalism;
• a wide range of hydrothermal conditions for application;
• resistance to influence of chemicals;
• high effectiveness for prophylactic application.

Transportation and storage

• do not to expose this biomaterial to direct sunlight (dark room);
• emperature conditions +10–15°C;
• apply within 18 hours since the moment of reception.