Cydnoseius negevi

Cydnoseius negevi (Swirski and Amitai).

(Also kown as Cydnodromella negevi (Swirski and Amitai) and Typhlodromus negevi Swirski and Amitai).

Taxonomic placing: Acari, Parasitiformes, Mesostigmata, Phytoseiidae.

Geographical distribution: This species is known from Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Morphology: The pale, reticulated dorsum is about 0.3 mm in length, with 18 pairs of setae plus two pairs of lateral setae. All setae are subequal in length, smooth, except Z5 (the sub-posterior pair), which are longer and slightly barbed. The sternal plate is also reticulated, has three pairs of setae plus preanal setae. A single, smooth macroseta is located on leg IV.

Life history: Cydnoseius negevi occurs on many plants and trees and feeds on a wide range of nutrients, including mites, thrips larvae, whiteflies, scale insects, pollen and even mildew. Fecundity comes to 25-35 eggs/female (depending on the food, pollen being the best). A generation can be raised in 1-2 weeks at 28-35°C, even under arid conditions, and longevity is about 4 weeks.

Economic importance: This predator is considered an important natural enemy of Oligonychus afrasiaticus in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, preying also on other pest mites. It can be mass-produced when offered only the pollen of date palms.

REFERENCES

Abou-Awad B.A., Nasr A.K., Gomaa E.A., Abou-Elela M.M. 1989. Life history of the predatory mite, Cydnodromella negevi and the effect of nutrition on its biology (Acari: Phytoseiidae). International Journal of Tropical Insect Science 10: 617-623.

Alatawi, F.J., Basahih, J.S. and Kamran, M. 2018. Suitability of date palm pollen as an alternative food source for the predatory mite Cydnoseius negevi (Swirski and Amitai) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) at a low relative humidity. Acarologia 58: 357-365.

Momen, F., Abdel-Khalek, A. and El-Sawi S. 2009. Life tables of the predatory mite Typhlodromus negevi feeding on prey insect species and pollen diet (Acari: Phytoseiidae) . Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica 44: 353–361 .

Negm M.W., Alatawi F.J. and Aldryhim Y. N. 2012. Incidence of predatory phytoseiid mites in Saudi Arabia: new records and a key to the Saudi Arabian species (Acari: Mesostigmata: Gamasina). Systematic and Applied Acarology 17: 261–268.

Negm, M.W., Alatawi, F.J. and Aldryhim, Y.N. 2014. Biology, predation, and life table of Cydnoseius negevi and Neoseiulus barkeri (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on the old world date mite, Oligonychus afrasiaticus (Acari: Tetranychidae). Journal of Insect Science 14:177.

Rasmy, A.H., Abou-Elella G.M. and Osman, M.A. 2013. Functional response of the phytoseiid mite Typhlodromus negevi Swirski and Amitai to the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae). Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection 47 1327-1334.