Cold tolerance of biological control agents Amblydromalus limonicus and Iphiseius degenerans

Abstract

Knowledge about cold tolerance of non-native biological control agents is critical to avoid permanently establishing them in new temperate areas outside of their native range. The cold tolerance of the predatory mites, Amblydromalus limonicus and Iphiseius degenerans, was investigated in the laboratory to assess their establishment potential in northern Europe, particularly Sweden. The lethal time of I. degenerans (the number of days until 100% mortality was reached) declined steeply from 5 degrees C to 0 degrees C and was almost zero at -5 degrees C. The lethal time of A. limonicus did not differ between 5 degrees C and 0 degrees C, but was reduced at -5 degrees C. For both species, LTime50 (the number of days until 50% of the mites died) was longer for fed than for unfed mites. The lethal temperature of A. limonicus (the temperature at which 100% mortality was reached) was -17.75 degrees C, whereas most I. degenerans died at -8.5 degrees C. LTemp50 (the temperature at which 50% of the mites died) was lower for A. limonicus (-9.8 degrees C) than for I. degenerans (-0.1 degrees C). Collectively, these findings suggest that I. degenerans is unlikely to establish in Sweden but that A. limonicus is more cold tolerant. This highlights the risk associated with releasing A. limonicus in Sweden due to concerns about potential establishment.

Keywords

environmental risk assessment; establishment potential; lethal temperature; lethal time; non-native species

Published in

Journal of Applied Entomology
2024, volume: 148, number: 10, pages: 1292-1299
Publisher: WILEY

SLU Authors

• Mbaka, Samuel Musyoka

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • University of Embu (UoEm)

• Vasconcelos, Sasha

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Hosein Rezai, Mohammad

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Karlsson, Miriam Frida

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Jonsson, Mattias

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Zoology
Ecology

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.13346

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/132361