The Mite Searching Ability of Stethorus punctum1 within an Apple Orchard 23

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Abstract
The ability of the predator Stethorus punctum (LeConte) to find the European red mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch) within an apple orchard was investigated in a 1-ha block. In the 148-tree orchard, only 8 trees were selected on which to allow an increase in the mite populations; the remaining trees were kept free of mites by applying acaricide sprays when deemed necessary. S. punctum adults demonstrated the ability to find the mites on the 8 trees when the mite population averaged less than one mite/leaf among the 8 trees. The adult females began depositing eggs on mite infested leaves when the population ranged from 1–2 mites/leaf. The results of this experiment possibly indicate that S. punctum may use some stimulus other than random searching to find mites in apple orchards.

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