Browsing by Author "KAUSHALA, E.A.N."

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    COMPARISON OF TWO SPECIES OF ASCID MITES AS A FOOD SOURCE FOR Neoseiulus baraki, A PREDATORY MITE OF COCONUT MITE, Aceria guerreronis
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2012) KAUSHALA, E.A.N.
    The coconut mite, Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae) is a serious pest in coconut cultivation in Sri Lanka. Release of laboratory-reared Neoseiulus baraki mites at 5000 per palm in 3-4 month intervals to a quarter of the plantation is the interim recommendation to control the pest mite. Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Acari: Acaridae) has been used to mass produce N. baraki, and another Tyrophagus species has been occasionally observed in those cultures. The current study evaluated T putrescentiae and the new Tyrophagus species to determine their suitability for mass production of N baraki. Both Tyrophagous spp. showed equal effect on the fecundity, durations of life stages, longevity and the sex ratio of N baraki. Therefore, this study shows the possibility of using both T putrescentiae and the new Tyrophagus sp. to enhance the mass production of N baraki, for the proper execution of the interim recommendation by Coconut Research Institute to control the coconut mite. Key words: Aceria guerreronis, Neoseiulus baraki, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, biological control, mass production