The role of natural enemies in regulating populations of biocontrol agents on gorse (Ulex europaeus L.)

摘要

Natural enemies can regulate populations of phytophagous arthropods. In weed biological control programs, natural enemies may either prevent agents from establishing or reduce their impact on the target weed. A study of the development time for Phytoseiulus persimilis at two temperatures on gorse spider mite (Tetranychus lintearius) and the pest mite T. urticae indicates P. persimilis will develop as fast, or faster, on the gorse spider mite as it does on pest mites. This suggests that P. persimilisis likely to have a negative impact on gorse spider mite populations, In addition, a survey of the arthropod fauna on gorse identified a range of potential natural enemies, consisting mainly of generalist predators, which could reduce the impact of the gorse thrips and provide an explanation for its slow dispersal rate.