Survival and plant-prey finding by Neoseiulus fallacis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on soil substrates after aerial dispersal.

In a greenhouse and in an open field, aspects of aerial and ambulatory dispersal of the phytoseiid mite. Neoseiulus fallacis (Garman) were studied with a focus on events that would occur after aerially dispersing mites had landed on soil or associated substrates. We measured recovery of predators on lima bean plants (Phaseolus lunatus L.) that were infested with the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch. Factors thought to affect movement and colonization were distance to a receiver unit from a release (landing) point, intervening soil surfaces such as clods, gravel, fine soil and grass, and management of soil surfaces such as mulching. watering or both. In the field, the effect of distance (0.11-1.76 m) from a landing point to a receiver unit was significant, with a negative log-linear relationship. Soil surfaces such as clods and management actions such as watering with mulching allowed for more capture of predators on bean plants with prey than did other treatments. Environmental conditions greatly affected survival of N. fallacis. Predators in the field that were present on bare soil suffered high mortality (ca. 90%) at fluctuating daytime conditions of 26.4 +/- 4.8 degrees C and 56 +/- 13.4% RH. Predators only suffered 10% mortality in the greenhouse under the same setting, but under more controlled and favorable environmental conditions. Effects of environmental conditions, mode of dispersal and implications to biological control are discussed.