Tag: M. A. Hoy

Wellsina Mite Hemicheyletia wellsina (De Leon) (Arachnida: Acari: Cheyletidae)

Figure 6. Adult Hemicheyletia wellsina (De Leon) (right) feeding on an adult female of the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae (Koch) (left) by grasping the front leg of the spider mite. Credit: Haleigh RayThis predatory mite was recently discovered in an unsprayed greenhouse at the University of Florida, Gainesville, living on Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium orchids, and assumed to be feeding on orchid pests such as spider mites, tenuipalpid mites, and mealybugs that were present on the orchids. Because there was no published information on this species as a natural enemy of orchid pests, colonies were initiated here to study its biology, maintained on two-spotted spider mite prey. Hemicheyletia wellsina does not appear likely to be an effective natural enemy in agricultural crops as an introduced predator, but could be beneficial in natural biological control in natural ecosystems, where pest densities are lower. This 5-page fact sheet was written by Haleigh A. Ray and Marjorie A. Hoy, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December 2014. (Photo: Haleigh Ray, UF/IFAS)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1066

Eriophyid mite vector of Rose Rosette Disease (RRD) Phyllocoptes fructiphilus Keifer (Arachnida: Acari: Eriophyidae)

Figure 1. Phyllocoptes fructiphilus Keifer is a tiny eriophyid mite and cannot be seen without magnification. Like all eriophyid mites, it has only two pairs of legs at the anterior of its worm-like body. Phyllocoptes fructiphilus Keifer, a tiny eriophyid mite, is the vector of a devastating viral disease of roses called Rose Rosette Disease (RRD). This mite can be spread by the wind and by contaminated clothing and equipment. It also is possible that it can disperse through phoresy (attaching itself to insects). As a result, the distribution of the mite and RRD is expanding. This 5-page fact sheet was written by Marjorie Hoy, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, May 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in999

Management of Orchid Pests with Silwet® L-77 and Horticultural Oils (PP287)

Figure 1. Some of the orchids used in the phytotoxicity study: A) Dendrobium, B) Phalaenopsis, C) Paphiopedilum, and D) Cattleya. No evidence of phytotoxicity was observed on the foliage, roots, flowers, or buds of any of the plants.IFAS researchers evaluated the ability of the surfactant Silwet® L-77 to improve the efficacy of horticultural oils in controlling boisduval scale and mite infestations in orchids. This 3-page fact sheet reports the results and provides homeowners with directions for its use. Written by R. A. Cating, M. A. Hoy, and A. J. Palmateer, and published by the UF Department of Plant Pathology, November 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp287