The Role of the Predaceous Mite Typhlodromus alhiasae Porath and Swirski in the Control of the Carmine Mite Teiranychus cinnabarinus (Bois.) (Tetranychidae: Acarina) Infesting Lemon Seedlings

Abstract

The role of the predatory mite Typhlodromus alhiasae Porath and Swirski in the control of the carmine mite Teiranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval) was tested in the greenhouse. Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f. cultivar seedlings one and half years old were used. The average daily temperature ranged from 15°C to 26°C and the relative humidity from 45-85%. The predatory mite was able to suppress the carmine mite population and consequently prevented the high percentage of the leaf drop to occur.