PREDACEOUS MITES (ACARI) ASSOCIATED WITH APPLE FOLIAGE IN MAINE

Abstract

Abstract Twenty species of predaceous mites were collected from apple foliage in Maine during a 2-year survey of commercial and abandoned orchards. Phytoseiids and stigmaeids comprised 97.3% of the total mites. The phytoseiid Amblyseius fallacis (Garman) was the predominant predaceous species in commercial orchards. Predaceous mites were collected in commercial orchards primarily in the latter part of the growing season following cessation of spraying. In abandoned orchards, the stigmaeid Agistemus fleschneri Summers was the most abundant predaceous mite, with the phytoseiids Phytoseius macropilis (Banks) and Typhlodromus pomi (Parrott) also frequently collected. In abandoned orchards, predaceous mites were collected throughout the season and were generally more abundant.