A Modular Cage System Design for Continuous Medium to Large ScaleIn VivoRearing of Predatory Mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Abstract

A new stackable modular system was developed for continuousin vivoproduction of phytoseiid mites. The system consists of cage units that are filled with lima beans,  Phaseolus lunatus, or red beans,P. vulgaris, leaves infested with high levels of the two-spotted spider mites,Tetranychus urticae. The cage units connect with each other through a connection cup, which also serves for monitoring and collection. Predatory mites migrate upwards to new cage units as prey is depleted. The system was evaluated for production ofPhytoseiulus persimilis. During a 6-month experimental period,20,894.9±10,482.5(mean ± standard deviation) predators were produced per week. The production consisted of4.1±4.6% nymphs and95.9±4.6% adults. A mean of554.5±59.8predatory mites were collected per harvested cage and the mean interval length between harvests was6.57±6.76days. The potential for commercial and experimental applications is discussed.