TY  - JOUR
JF  - Acarologia
T1  - Recent developments in the use of Amblydromalus limonicus as a biocontrol agent
VL  - 66
IS  - Suppl
SP  - 160
EP  - 160
PY  - 2026
SN  - 0044-586X
SN  - 2107-7207
PB  - Les Amis d'Acarologia
AU  - Markus, Knapp
AU  - Anton, Bekendam
AU  - Steven, Voet
AU  - Sarra, Bouagga
UR  - https://doi.org/10.24349/zwhk-a17y
DO  - 10.24349/zwhk-a17y
DA  - 2026-07-20
ET  - 2026-07-20
KW  - Phytoseiidae
KW  - Biological control
KW  - Thrips
KW  - Slow release
KW  - Products
AB  - Amblydromalus limonicus became commercially available in 2012 and a comprehensive review on its biology and role as biocontrol agent was published in 2013. In recent years the product was significantly improved and this predatory mite is now also available in slow-release sachets. Here we present an overview of recent research on the temperature range in which this predatory mite can be used, the effectiveness of sachets in the control of western flower thrips and whiteflies, and on experiments to control the invasive thrips species Thrips parvispinus. The consumption of western flower thrips and oviposition of A. limonicus was compared to other commercially available generalist predatory mites at low temperatures as they are common in, for instance, strawberry production systems in Europe. We also investigated the number of predatory mites exiting the newly developed slow-release sachets and their dispersal in different crops. Additionally, A. limonicus was tested as a biocontrol agent for the invasive thrips species Thrips parvispinus. In laboratory experiments, the consumption of thrips larvae and oviposition of A. limonicus was higher than that of the other generalist predatory mites investigated. The new Limonica Ulti-Mite sachets release predatory mites into the crop for up to 6 weeks. Cage trials in the Netherlands and Spain demonstrated that the mites exiting from the sachet successfully established in sweet pepper and colonized plants up to 2 m away from the sachet within 3 weeks. These results were confirmed in commercial greenhouses for various other crops including cucumber, strawberries and several ornamental plants.. In combination with Orius laevigatus, A. limonicus provided good control of the invasive T. parvispinus in sweet pepper in Spain in both the winter and the summer season. In conclusion, A. limonicus proofed again to be an excellent biocontrol agent for various thrips species, including the invasive T. parvispinus. The slow-release sachets have been awaited by growers for a long time. After being put in the crop they ensure a constant supply of predatory mites for several weeks. This saves time and labour and avoids contamination of the crop with carrier material, which is undesirable in many ornamentals.
ER -