A project trialling beneficial mites to control a pest mite in spinach will also potentially benefit more crops where other species of pest mites are difficult to manage.
A Lighter Touch is partnering with Vegetables New Zealand in a project to assess two biocontrol agents (BCAs) for the control of spinach crown mite (SCM), which can cause considerable damage to the leaves of spinach plants reducing marketability and yield. It aims to understand what biocontrol options are available to be explored in further commercial-scale trials for SCM control.
While Tyrophagus similis (SCM), the species of pest mite which is the focus of the work is not a specific issue in other ALT crops, other mite species are. The approach and predators used in this project may also be applicable to those crops where other mite species are difficult to control.
The SCM project also builds on the methodology from the Strawberry Growers NZ thrips control project, growing capacity in the industry’s research partners for predator testing.
The two stage project will be led by Bioeconomy Science Institute, Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research group and is expected to take 15 months to complete.
The incidence of SCM damage in outdoor crops may also increase with climate change.
Stage one is laboratory-based work to understand if the two predators can feed and reproduce on SCM and how much they can eat each day. The two BCAs being assessed, Neoseiulus cucumeris and Stratiolaelaps scimitus, are both commercially available at relatively low cost and are known to feed on a close relative of SCM.
The second stage will be testing the efficacy of the two predators in a greenhouse setting. While currently SCM is only a sporadic issue in crops grown outdoors in New Zealand, the industry is moving towards more covered cropping. It is anticipated that SCM may become a pest in greenhouse environments where conditions such as warmth, humidity and reduced light intensity can favour pest population growth. It is expected that incidence of SCM damage in outdoor crops may also increase with climate change.
Findings from the project will be shared with vegetable growers as it progresses. Keep updated via the project page on the ALT website.
