Quantitative Production and Processing of Tetranychid Mites for Large-Scale Testing or Predator Production

Abstract

Lima bean seeding held 7 days after planting at 27±2°C under fluorescent lights, were transferred to a greenhouse and infested with 0.24 g of Tetranychus pacificus McGregor eggs per 100 plants. Fourteen days later, the miles are washed from the leaves in a specially designed washer and collected on a series of graduated fine mesh screens. Recovery of mites during an 8-week period averaged 1.29 g or about 353,860 mites per 100 seedlings. Weekly production from 5000 plants averaged 64.4 g of mites and required about 12 man-hours per week for the entire process (planting, infesting, washing, collecting, weighing). The system was designed to be expanded readily without altering the basic program.