Airborne pollen can affect the abundance of predatory mites in vineyards: implications for conservation biological control strategies.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The importance of pollen as alternative food for generalist phytoseiid mites occurring in vineyards has been investigated in northeastern Italy. We compared pollen and phytoseiid abundance in four vineyards and in plots located at different distance from flowering hop plants. Pollen (Carpinus betulus and Typha spp.) was sprayed onto the foliage to evaluate the potential impact of this food source on predatory mite abundance. Finally, grass management was investigated to analyze the effect of a reduced mowing frequency on predatory mite population densities.

Results

Arboreal pollen was found mostly during the spring and the grapevine blossoming period. Nonarboreal pollen dominated throughout the growing seasons. In vineyards, the abundance of Amblyseius andersoni,

SUBMITTER: Malagnini V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9305490 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature