The potential use of natural enemies and semiochemicals for the integrated management of the poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae were examined. The seasonal population dynamics of the pest and two of its potential predators, Alphitobius diaperinus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and Carcinops pumilio (Coleoptera: Histeridae) were studied on two commercial egg-producing poultry farms. Only a weak negative relationship was found between the number of adult A. diaperinus and those of D. gallinae, but subsequent laboratory-based feeding studies demonstrated that both adults and late instar larvae of this species fed readily on the eggs and larvae of D. gallinae. Early instar larvae were unable to feed on mite eggs and larvae. The effects on D. gallinae of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Hyphomycetes: Moniliales) strain IMI 386367 and its compatibility with A. diaperinus were studied in laboratory bioassays. Confining mites on filter paper treated with aqueous suspensions of B. bassiana resulted in 100 % mortality of engorged adult females of D. gallinae within 10 days, an 80 % reduction in egg hatch within 5 days and the death of all newly emerged larvae within 24 hours of emergence. The fungus was less effective when applied to plywood surfaces. A. diaperinus adults were less susceptible than larvae; exposure of adults resulted in 36 % mortality within 31 days compared to 100 % mortality of larvae within 9 days. Studies on the mating behaviour of D. gallinae demonstrated that while males showed precopulatory "mate guarding" behaviour towards engorged female deutonymphs, the response did not appear to be elicited by short-range volatile or contact semiochemicals produced by female mites. Behavioural responses of females were not essential in eliciting mating behaviour in males, since males responded to freshly-killed females. There was no evidence of a female specific compound. The hydrocarbons tricosane and pentacosane found in adult females were also present in male mites but at much lower levels
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:403724 |
| Date | January 2004 |
| Creators | Stockton, Candice Monique |
| Publisher | Keele University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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