The effect of the rate of successful dispersal of a phytoseiid mite, <i>Phytoseiulus persimilis</i> Athias‐Henriot (Acarina: Phytoseiidae) on the persistence in the interactive system between the predator and its prey

Abstract

Summary Dispersal behaviour was studied on a predacious phytoseiid mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias‐Henriot in response to the density of its prey, Tetranychus kanzawai Kishida . And the effect of the change in the rate of successful dispersal of the predators among patches was tested on the persistence of the predator‐prey system. The results of the study are summarized as follows: With a severe decline in prey density available per individual predator, the predators exhibited a marked behavioural change and dispersed to other areas. When two neighboring host plants did not touch with each other and the dispersal of the predators was possible only through a 20cm plywood “bridge” which connected the two plants, the rate of successful dispersal of the predators was only 20 to 25%, whereas it was 95% when the plants touched with each other. In the system where 32 host plants touched with each other, the predators succeeded in immigrating into all the plants by the 16th day, and they completely eliminated all the prey by the 33rd day. In another system, the 32 plants were equally divided into eight “patches” which were connected with each other with two of the bridges and the predators could move between them only through the bridges as mentioned above. In such a system the predators and their prey coexisted about three times longer than in the other one. It is suggested that for a longer continued coexistence of the predators and prey, it would be necessary to introduce more physical barrier against the dispersal of the predators and to provide more chances for the prey to disperse.