Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes (Acari: Phytoseiidae) as a potential control agent for Raoiella indica Hirst (Acari: Tenuipalpidae)

Raoiella indica Hirst (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) is a pest species that has expanded not only in geographical distribution but also in the number of host plants. Control measures are still being evaluated in recently invaded countries. In some countries and for some crops, spraying with botanical extracts has been used to reduce R. indica populations. Laboratory and field studies point to the predatory mite Amblyseius largoensis (Muma) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) as promising for combating R. indica. However, this predator has not yet been commercially available. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the potential of another predatory mite Neoseiulus barkeri-Hughes, a commercially available generalist predator as a biological control agent of R. indica. The consumption and oviposition rate of N. barkeri were determined across the developmental stages of R. indica. The predation and oviposition capacity of N. barkeri and A. largoensis when fed R. indica eggs in the laboratory were compared. In the field, releases of the predator N. barkeri at densities of 900, 600 and 300 predators per plant were compared to spraying with botanical extracts such as cottonseed oil and azadirachtin to control R. indica. Our results suggested that N. barkeri is an effective predator to control R. indica. The consumption of N. barkeri was inversely related to the life stage of R. indica, and all developmental stages of R. indica enabled the reproduction of N. barkeri. The predation and oviposition of N. barkeri were higher than those of A. largoensis, and the releases of N. barkeri at densities of 900 and 600 predators/plant resulted in significant reductions in R. indica populations.