Selection of Predatory Mites for the Biological Control of Potato Tuber Moth in Stored Potatoes

Worldwide, the potato tuber moth (PTM), <i>Phthorimaea operculella</i> (Zeller), is one of the most severe pests affecting potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i> L.), whether in open-air crops or during tuber storage. This work examines the potential control of this pest by two species of predatory mites, <i>Macrocheles robustulus</i> (Berlese) and <i>Blattisocius tarsalis</i> (Berlese), on pest eggs under laboratory conditions. In the two first assays, the acceptance rate of the pest eggs was assessed for each predatory mite. Then, in a third assay, the functional response of <i>B. tarsalis</i> was studied. The results showed that <i>Macrocheles</i> <i>robustulus</i> did not prey on the pest eggs (number of eggs surviving = 4.33 &#177; 0.38), whereas <i>B. tarsalis</i> did (number of eggs surviving = 0.5 &#177; 0.5). Likewise, <i>B. tarsalis</i> showed a type II functional response when it killed the eggs. The results showed the potential use of <i>Blattisocius tarsalis</i> as a biological control agent of <i>P. operculella</i> in potato under storage conditions.

Abstract licence: CC BY

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