Parasitism by the mite Acarophenax lacunatus on beetle pests of stored products

• Autor(a) principal: Oliveira, Carlos Romero F.
• Data de Publicação: 2003
• Outros Autores: Faroni, Leda Rita D'A., Guedes, Raul Narciso C., Pallini, Angelo
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: LOCUS Repositório Institucional da UFV
• Texto Completo: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025755528951; http://www.locus.ufv.br/handle/123456789/22770
• topic: Acarophenax lacunatus; Acarophenacidae; Biological control agent; Cryptolestes ferrugineu; Oryzaephilus surinamensis; Rhyzopertha dominica; Stored product pests; Stored wheat; Tribolium castaneum

Recent reports of the biocontrolpotential of the mite species Acarophenaxlacunatus (Cross & Krantz (Prostigmata:Acarophenacidae) and the lack of biologicalstudies on this regulatory agent led to thepresent study carried out under laboratoryconditions. The objective of the investigationwas to assess the host range of A. lacunatus,so far only reported as egg parasite ofRhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera:Bostrichidae). Four Coleoptera species ofstored cereals were used: R. dominica,Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Tenebrionidae),Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens)(Laemophloeidae) and Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) (Cucujidae). The highest rates of eggparasitism were observed on R. dominica and T.castaneum, leading to a significant decrease ofpopulations of both species and reduced wheatweight loss. A. lacunatus was also able toparasitize eggs of C. ferrugineus, but not ofO. surinamensis. These results indicate abroader host range of A. lacunatus thaninitially suspected and also strengthen itspossibility of use in integrated pestmanagement programs in storage environments.