[Edited_by_A._Ciancio,_C.N.R.,_Bari,_Italy_and_K.(Bookos.org)

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IPM STRATEGIES THROUGH SPECIALIST AND
GENERALIST PHYTOSEIIDS (ACARI,
MESOSTIGMATA)
SAURO SIMONI AND MARISA CASTAGNOLI
Agricultural Research Council,
Research Centre for Agrobiology and Pedology
via di Lanciola 12/A, Cascine del Riccio,
50125 Firenze, Italy
Abstract. The exploitation of natural enemies, especially the predaceous mites phytoseiids, has become a
fundamental factor for IPM in integrated crop production in Europe and worldwide. In controlling
harmful insect and mite species, various species/strains from this group of predators are commonly used
and marketed. Intrinsic biological traits of phytoseiids allow their ranking in different life style types.
These factors, together with their quick adaptability to face new emergencies (i.e. phytophagous and
exotic pests outbreaks and new environment or climatic conditions) confirm their role as a significant and
sustainable tool in biological control. In this chapter the foundations for a more intensive adoption of
phytoseiids are underlined, including the enhancement and introduction of new strategies aiming at a long
term and efficient pest control.
1. INTRODUCTION
The need to increase food availability hardly couples with better chances to limit
plant pests in modern agriculture, and several actions aim worldwide at increasing
crop production and facilitating food and commodities trade. These efforts include
lengthening of the plant/crops seasonal life or strategies increasing the consistent
uniformity of varieties and cultivars used which represent, in fact, useful factors for
business at small time scale. However, these actions are not always suitable to
prevent a multitude of pest infestations on a regional scale. Since pests are also
persistently poised for plant invasion, preventive and early remedial pest
management strategies and treatments are needed at regular time intervals, in almost
any cropping system (Sparks, 1999; Jarvis, Mar., & Sears, 2006; Gerson &
Weintraub, 2007).
311
A. Ciancio, K.G. Mukerji (eds.), Integrated Management of Arthropod Pests
and Insect Borne Diseases, Integrated Management of Plant Pests and Diseases 5,
DOI 10.1007/978-90-481-8606-8_12, © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010