A mite to control potato tuber moth

Potato Solanum tuberosum is one of the most important food crops in the world, playing a significant role in global food security. However, many potato industries and farms may suffer losses of tuber yield and quality in storages due to lepidopteran pests. Here, we evaluated the effectiveness of an ectoparasitic idiobiont mite Pyemotes zhonghuajia in biological control of the potato tuber moth (PTM) Phthorimaea operculella by determining the lethal, sublethal (non-consumptive) and transgenerational effects of P. zhonghuajia of various population densities and exposure durations on PTM survival, development and reproduction. ResultsPyemotes zhonghuajia females were capable of killing all instar stages of PTM, while resistance to mite parasitism increased with the development of PTM life stage. The mortality of mature larvae (i.e., 4th instar) and pupae increased with the increase of mite density and exposure duration. P. zhonghuajia imposed significant negative sublethal impacts on PTM pupation rate, female fecundity and adult longevity but not on immature development. The sublethal stress was transgenerational, resulting in lower reproduction in the offspring generation. ConclusionP. zhonghuajia induces lethal, sublethal and transgenerational effects and significantly decreases PTM survival and reproductive out, demonstrating its high efficiency in biological control of PTM. Our study provides insight into the mechanisms underlying the non-consumptive effects of parasitism in an ectoparasite-host system and delivers critical information for the design and implementation of augmentative releases of P. zhonghuajia in the biological control of PTM in potato storages. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. SourcesLiu JF, He XZ, Ye S, Zhou JJ, Han P, Gao YL, Yang MF. Pest management of postharvest potatoes: Lethal, sublethal, and transgenerational effects of the ectoparasitic mite Pyemotes zhonghuajia on the potato worm Phthorimaea operculella. Pest Manag Sci. 2023 Aug 18. doi: 10.1002/ps.7730. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37595072.Picture,?Damage on a potato inflicted by the potato tuberworm, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller).?Credit: Silvia I. Rondon, Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Oregon State University, in?POTATO TUBERWORM PHTHORIMAEA OPERCULELLA (ZELLER) (LEPIDOPTERA: GELECHIIDAE)?Harsimran K. Gill, Gurminder Chahil, Gaurav Goyal, Arshdeep K. Gill, and Jennifer L. Gillett-Kaufman,?https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1031