Bioecologia de Neoseiulus baraki (Athias-Henriot) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) : distribuição, estabelecimento e influência de fatores abióticos na sua dispersão

Abstract

Neoseiulus baraki (Athias-Henriot) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is one of the main natural enemies of Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae), together with Neoseiulus paspalivorus (De Leon). However, the main form of the control of A. guerreronis in the field is through the application of acaricides. The presence of acaricides may compromise the efficiency of the N. baraki as a predator, adversely affecting its biology and consequently biological control. Information about the probability of settlement of N. baraki in different regions and the influence of acaricides on this predator is important to define control strategies for A. guerreronis, through this still little studied. Therefore, the objective of this study was: (i) predict spatial distribution of predators of A. guerreronis belonging to the genera Neoseiulus in Brazil; (ii) study the dispersal capacity by walking, survival and colonization of the fruits to N. baraki and at different environmental conditions in the absence of food; (iii) investigate the possibility of colonization by N. baraki in the infested fruits with A. guerreronis and sprayed with acaricides, at different scales; (iv) check if food deprivation and acaricides to interfere in the take-off for dispersal aerial of N. baraki. The results showed that the areas more favourable to settlement for predators are the coastal region North and Northeast. In the climatic conditions of 27 °C and 75% RH N. baraki survived on average for 36 hours e can walk approximately 134 m throughout life, easily accessing other fruits of the same bunch or young bunch of the same plant. However, the mites that are in aborted fruits, probably do not access plants in the field by walking. The presence of acaricides negatively affects the dispersal and colonization of N. baraki intraplant, stimulate the aerial dispersal.