STUDIES ON LASIOSEIUS-SCAPULATUS, A MESOSTIGMATID MITE PREDACEOUS ON NEMATODES

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 15  (4) , 523-528
Abstract
The life history and feeding habits of L. scapulatus, an ascid predator and potential biocontrol agent of nematodes, was examined. Reproduction was asexual, and the life cycle was 8-10 days at room temperature. Life history consisted of the egg, protonymph, deutonymph and adult. Both nymphal stages and the adult captured and consumed nematodes. Two fungal genera and 8 genera of nematodes were suitable food sources. Second-stage root-knot nematode juveniles were eaten, but eggs and adult females were not. The mite fed voraciously on nematodes and drastically reduced Aphelenchus avenae populations in vitro. It is suggested that mites are of considerable importance in the ecology of certain nematodes.

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