Mite composition, method for rearing a phytoseiid predatory mite species, and use of the composition for controlling crop pests

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mite composition, the rearing thereof and to the use of the composition for controlling crop pests. The invention provides a mite composition comprising: —a rearing population of a phytoseiid predatory mite species, —a population of at least one species from the order Astigmata, and —optionally a carrier, wherein the population of the species from the order Astigmata is not alive. In particular the population of the species from the order Astigmata is in fast frozen fom 1. The composition is used for controlling crop pests, such as thrip species. The crops may be greenhouse grown crops and open field crops.

1 . A mite composition comprising:
 a rearing population of a phytoseiid predatory mite species,   a population of at least one species from the order Astigmata, and   optionally a carrier,   wherein the population of the species from the order Astigmata is not alive.   
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the population of the species from the order Astigmata is in fast frozen form. 
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the phytoseiid predatory species is selected from the sub-family Amblyseiinae, such as from the genus  Amblyseius , e.g.  Amblyseius swirskii, Amblyseius cucumeris, Amblyseius largoensis, Amblyseius andersoni;  the genus  Neoseiulus , e.g.  Neoseiulus womersleyi, Neoseiulus californicus Neoseiulus fallacis, Neoseiulus longispinosus;  the genus  Typhlodromalus , e.g.  Typhlodromalus lailae, Typhlodromalus limonicus ; the genus  Typhlodromips , e.g.  Typhlodromips montdorensis ; the genus  Euseius , e.g.  Euseius ovalis, Euseius scutalis, Euseius tularensis, Euseius hibisci.    
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the species from the order Astigmata is selected from a group comprising members of the family Acaridae, such as from the genus  Acarus , e.g.  Acarus siro, Acarus farris, Acarus immobilis, Acarus chaetoxysilos ; from the genus  Tyrophagus , e.g.  Tyrophagus longior, Tyrophagus similis, Tyrophagus putrescentiae;  from the genus  Aleuroglyphus , e.g.  Aleuroglyphus ovatus;  from the genus  Lardoglyphus , e.g.  Lardoglyphus konoi ; from the genus  Caloglyphus , e.g.  Caloglyphus mycophagus , from the genus  Suidasia , e.g.  Suidasia nesbitti ; from the genus  Thyreophagus , e.g.  Thyreophagus entomophagus ; from the family Carpoglyphidae, such as the genus  Carpoglyphus , e.g.  Carpoglyphus lactis, Carpoglyphus munroi;  from the family Glycyphagidae such as the genus  Glycyphagus , e.g.  Glycyphagus domesticus ; the genus  Lepidoglyphus , e.g.  Lepidoglyphus destructor ; from the genus  Blomia , e.g.  Blomia freemani;  from the family Chortoglyphagidae, such as the genus  Chortoglyphus , e.g.  Chortoglyphus arcuatus.    
     
     
         5 . The composition according to  claim 1  comprising a further nutritional source for the phytoseiid population such as pollen. 
     
     
         6 . A method for rearing a phytoseiid predatory mite comprising:
 providing a composition according to  claim 1 ,   allowing individuals of the phytoseiid predatory mite to prey on the population of the species from the order Astigmata.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the rearing population is maintained at 20-30° C. and 70-90% relative humidity. 
     
     
         8 . A method for controlling a crop pest comprising administering the composition of  claim 1  to a crop. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the crop pest is selected from a range of insect and mite pests, such as thrip species, white-fly species, spider mite species (Tetranychus, Panonychus), various other mite species, such as the tomato russet mite, the broad mite, the avocado brown mite, and other pest arthropods. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the crop is selected from greenhouse grown crops, i.e. vegetable, salad, soft fruit and ornamentals, and open field crops, such as avocado, banana, coconut, tea and top fruit. 
     
     
         11 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein the rearing population is maintained at 20-30° C. and 70-90% relative humidity. 
     
     
         12 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein the the food material used to feed the prey mites is reduced or removed. 
     
     
         13 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein fungal contamination is reduced by exhaustion of the food material for the prey mites. 
     
     
         14 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein the protein content of the prey mites is protected from denaturing.