Different methods of releasing Phytoseiulus persimilis and Neoseiulus californicus to control Tetranychus cucurbitacearum (Sayed) (Acari: Tetranychidae) on two melon cultivars

Author : El-Sayeda H.H. EL-Kasser, El-Saiedy, E.M.A. and Rasha A.A. El-Ferjany

The dispersal of natural enemies throughout the crop is essential for biological control in crop management. Pests must be quickly reduced to extremely low levels in many crops, typically through preventative measures. The release strategy of predacious mites, Phytoseiulus persimilis and Neoseiulus californicus was investigated using various manual releasing methods against Tetranychus cucurbitacearum on two melon cultivars (Sakata and MacG5) throughout two seasons (2022-2023) at El-Beheira Governorate. Furthermore, the correlations between the two predacious mites and the phytophagous mite were studied. P. persimilis and N. californicus provided adequate control of T. cucurbitacearum after being released on both melon cultivars using three different ways over two seasons. The manually releasing methods (leaf, vermiculate, or pure) did not significantly differ in P. persimilis and N. californicus treatments separately. Pearson correlation tests between the mean numbers of two predacious mites and T. cucurbitacearum moving and egg stages show that N. californicus pure releasing methods have the highly significant negative correlation and the highest effect.

Keywords : P. persimilis, N. californicus, Tetranychus cucurbitacearum, melon cultivars, release strategy, correlation,

Received:3/5/2025 12:00:00 AM; Accepted: 4/25/2025 12:00:00 AM