Mite Composition, Use Thereof, Method for Rearing a Phytoseiid Predatory Mite, Rearing System for Rearing Said Phytoseiid Predatory Mite and Methods for Biological Pest Control on a Crop

Abstract

The present invention relates to a novel mite composition comprising a population of a phytoseiid predatory mite species and a factitious host population, which may be employed for rearing said phytoseiid predatory mite species or for releasing the phytoseiid predatory mite species in a crop. According to further aspects the invention relates to a method for rearing a phytoseiid predatory mite species, to the use of the mite composition and to a method for biological pest control in a crop, which employ the mite composition.

1 . Mite composition comprising:
 a rearing population of a phytoseiid predatory mite species,   a factitious host population,   and optionally a carrier for individuals of said populations,   
       characterised in that the factitious host population comprises at least one species selected from the family of the Carpoglyphidae such as from the genus  Carpoglyphus , preferably the species  Carpoglyphus lactis.    
     
     
         2 . Composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the phytoseiid predatory mite species is selected from: the subfamily of the Amblyseiinae, such as from the Genus  Amblyseius , e.g.  Amblyseius andersoni, Amblyseius swirskii  or  Amblyseius largoensis , from the genus  Euseius  e.g.  Euseius finlandicus, Euseius hibisci, Euseius ovalis, Euseius victoriensis, Euseius stipulatus, Euseius scutalis, Euseius tularensis, Euseius addoensis  or  Euseius citri , from the genus  Neoseiulus  e.g.  Neoseiulus barkeri, Neoseiulus californicus, Neoseiulus cucumeris, Neoseiulus longispinosus, Neoseiulus womersleyi, Neoseiulus idaeus  or  Neoseiulus fallacis , from the genus  Typhlodromalus  e.g.  Typhlodromalus limonicus  or  Typhlodromalus peregrinus  from the genus  Typhlodromips  e.g.  Typhlodromips montdorensis;    the subfamily of the Typhlodrominae, such as from the genus  Galendromus  e.g.  Galendromus occidentalis , from the genus  Typhlodromus  e.g.  Typhlodromus pyri, Typhlodromus doreenae  or  Typhlodromus athiasae.      
     
     
         3 . Composition according to  claim 1 - 2 , comprising a food substance suitable for said factitious host population. 
     
     
         4 . Composition according to  claim 1 - 3 , wherein the factitious host population is a rearing population. 
     
     
         5 . Composition according to  claim 1 - 4 , wherein the number of individuals of the phytoseiid predatory mite species relative to the number of individuals of the factitious host is from about 100:1 to 1:20, such as about 1:1 to 1:10, e.g. about 1:4, 1:5 or 1:7. 
     
     
         6 . Method for rearing a phytoseiid predatory mite comprising:
 providing a composition according to  claim 1 - 5 ,   allowing individuals of said phytoseiid predatory mite to prey on individuals of said factitious host population.   
     
     
         7 . Method according to  claim 6 , wherein the composition is maintained at 18-35° C. and/or 60-95% relative humidity. 
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 6 - 7 , wherein said composition comprises a carrier and a suitable food substance and the factitious host population is maintained as a three-dimensional culture on the carrier. 
     
     
         9 . Use of an astigmatid mite selected from the family of the Carpoglyphidae such as from the genus  Carpoglyphus , preferably the species  Carpoglyphus lactis , as a factitious host for rearing a phytoseiid predatory mite. 
     
     
         10 . Use according to  claim 9 , wherein the phytoseiid mite is selected from:
 the subfamily of the Amblyseiinae, such as from the Genus  Amblyseius , e.g.  Amblyseius andersoni, Amblyseius swirskii  or  Amblyseius largoensis , from the genus  Euseius  e.g.  Euseius finlandicus, Euseius hibisci, Euseius ovalis, Euseius victoriensis, Euseius stipulatus, Euseius scutalis, Euseius tularensis, Euseius addoensis  or  Euseius citri , from the genus  Neoseiulus  e.g.  Neoseiulus barkeri, Neoseiulus californicus, Neoseiulus cucumeris, Neoseiulus longispinosus, Neoseiulus womersleyi, Neoseiulus idaeus  or  Neoseiulus fallacis , from the genus  Typhlodromalus  e.g.  Typhlodromalus limonicus  or  Typhlodromalus peregrinus  from the genus  Typhlodromips  e.g.  Typhlodromips montdorensis;      the subfamily of the Typhlodrominae, such as from the genus  Galendromus  e.g.  Galendromus occidentalis , from the genus  Typhlodromus  e.g.  Typhlodromus pyri, Typhlodromus doreenae  or  Typhlodromus athiasae.      
     
     
         11 . Rearing system for rearing a phytoseiid predatory mite, which system comprises a container holding the composition according to  claim 1 - 5 . 
     
     
         12 . Rearing system according to  claim 11 , wherein said container comprises an exit for at least one mobile life stage of the phytoseiid mite. 
     
     
         13 . Rearing system according to  claim 12 , wherein said exit is suitable for providing a sustained release of said at least one mobile life stage. 
     
     
         14 . Use of the composition according to  claim 1 - 5  or the rearing system according to  claim 12 - 13  for controlling a crop pest. 
     
     
         15 . Use according to  claim 14  wherein the crop pest is selected from white flies, such as  Trialeurodes vaporariorum  or  Bemisia tabaci ; thrips, such as  Thrips tabaci  or  Frankliniella  spp., such as  Frankliniella occidentalis , spider mites such as  Tetranychus urticae , tarsonemid mites such as  Polyphagotarsonemus latus.    
     
     
         16 . Use according to  claim 15 , wherein the crop is selected from (greenhouse) vegetable crops such as peppers ( Capsicum annuum , eggplants ( Solanum melogena ), Curcubits ( Cucurbitaceae ) such as cucumbers ( Cucumis sativa ), melons ( Cucumis melo ), watermelons ( Citrullus lanatus ); soft fruit (such as strawberries ( Fragaria x ananassa ), raspberries ( Rubus ideaus )), (greenhouse) ornamental crops (such as roses, gerberas, chrysanthemums) or tree crops such as  Citrus  spp. 
     
     
         17 . Method for biological pest control in a crop comprising providing a composition according to  claim 1 - 5  to said crop. 
     
     
         18 . Method according to  claim 17  wherein the pest is selected from white flies, such as  Trialeurodes vaporariorum  or  Bemisia tabaci ; thrips, such as  Thrips tabaci  or  Frankliniella  spp., such as  Frankliniella occidentalis , spider mites such as  Tetranychus urticae , tarsonemid mites such as  Polyphagotarsonemus latus.    
     
     
         19 . Method according to any of the  claims 17 - 18 , wherein the composition is provided by applying an amount of said composition in the vicinity, such as at the basis, of a number of crop plants, preferably each crop plant. 
     
     
         20 . Method according to  claim 19 , wherein the amount is from 1-10 ml, preferably 2-5 ml. 
     
     
         21 . Method according to  claim 17 - 18 , wherein the composition is provided in the rearing system according to  claim 12 - 13 , by placing said rearing system in the vicinity, of a number of crop plants, preferably each crop plant, such as by hanging said rearing system in said crop plant. 
     
     
         22 . Method according to any of the  claims 17 - 21 , wherein the crop is selected from (greenhouse) vegetable crops such as peppers ( Capsicum annuum ), eggplants ( Solanum melogena ), Curcubits ( Cucurbitaceae ) such as cucumbers ( Cucumis sativa ), melons ( Cucumis melo ), watermelons ( Citrullus lanatus ); soft fruit (such as strawberries ( Fragaria x ananassa ), raspberries ( Rubus ideaus )), (greenhouse) ornamental crops (such as roses, gerberas, chrysanthemums) or tree crops such as  Citrus  spp.