Institute of Plant Protection BOKU Vienna

Mites

Research groups

Entomology and biological control of pests

Research field and study organisms

We work with agriculturally relevant mites, with special emphasis on predaceous mites of the family Phytoseiidae. Most phytoseiids are natural enemies of herbivorous mites (e.g. spider mites and gall mites) and insects (e.g. thrips). Phytoseiids are key players in integrated/biological pest management in diverse agricultural ecosystems such as orchards, vineyards and greenhouses. Due to their small size, short generation time and ease of rearing we use phytoseiid mites as model animals to pursue scientific questions in biological control, behavior, and ecology. Attempting to integrate basic and applied research questions, an overall goal is to elucidate the linkage between behavioral and ecological traits of predaceous mites and their performance in biological control.

Experimental systems

We study mites at both the individual and population level using artificial microcages, detached leaves, individual plants, and groups of plants. The experiments are carried out at various spatial scales in the laboratory, semi-field (greenhouse, walk-in chambers) and open field.

Diploma and PhD Students

Finished
Emile Lawson-Balagbo (Diploma, finished May 2003). Species composition and activity abundance of carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in soybean and sugar beet after conventional and reduced tillage.

Alexander Auer (Diploma, finished June 2003). Effects of the pubescence of apple leaves on the abundance of the predatory mites Kampimodromus aberrans and Euseius finlandicus.

Current
Monika Enigl DI (PhD): Female choice and Wolbachia infection in the predaceous mite Phytoseiulus persimilis.

Petra Riegler (Diploma): Host-plant mediated mycorrhiza effects on the spider mite Tetranychus urticae.

Valerie Vanas (Diploma): When to leave a prey patch? Density dependent egg deposition and prey patch leaving in the predaceous mite Phytoseiulus persimilis.

Lydia Seelmann (Diploma): Leaf pubescence mediates intraguild predation between the predatory mites Kampimodromus aberrans and Euseius finlandicus.