Mass rearing of Macrocheles mites (Acari: Macrochelidae) and release in sugarcane fields and cattle farms for the biological control of Stomoxys calcitrans (Diptera: Muscidae)

• Grant number: 16/19747-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: May 01, 2017
• End date: April 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Gilberto José de Moraes
• Grantee: Leticia Henrique de Azevedo
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans, is a serious problem that has been faced by cattle farmers in some Brazilian states and has caused significant losses in the production of cattle sector. Population explosions of this fly have been associated with the implantation of sugarcane plantations, which the vinasse has been applied on the straw that is left in field after the harvest of sugarcane. The difficulty in controlling this situation is enormous, partly by the lack of efficient methods of chemical control of S. calcitrans. Thus, there is an increasing search by using other methods that can be effective in the control of pests and parasites, including the use of different forms of biological control, such as predatory mites. Mites of the Macrochelidae family have shown potential to reduce levels of the population of harmful flies associated with animal excreta or decaying organic matter. The objective of this project will be to establish a pilot program of mass rearing of these predatory mites to enable releases in sugarcane areas and cattle farm to check their potential in the control of stable fly in the field. For this experiment will be evaluated three species of macrochelids, which will be rearing in the laboratory. To check the potential of these mites in the control of stable fly, initially semi-field tests will be conducted. This project is expected to help cattle farmers that are going through great difficulties with the attack of the stable fly. This work will be pioneering and make an important contribution to sugarcane and livestock sectors, and also will represent another step forward for the development of biological control in Brazil. (AU)

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

AZEVEDO, L. H.; MOREIRA, M. F. P.; PEREIRA, G. G.; BORGES, V; DE MORAES, G. J.; INOMOTO, M. M.; VICENTE, M. H.; DE SIQUEIRA PINTO, M.; PERES, L. E. P.; RUEDA-RAMIREZ, D.; et al. Combined releases of soil predatory mites and provisioning of free-living nematodes for the biological control of root-knot nematodes on `Micro Tom tomato'. BIOLOGICAL CONTROL, v. 146, JUL 2020. (19/06282-4, 17/12004-1, 16/19747-7)

AZEVEDO, L. H.; MOREIRA, M. F. P.; PEREIRA, G. G.; BORGES, V; DE MORAES, G. J.; INOMOTO, M. M.; VICENTE, M. H.; DE SIQUEIRA PINTO, M.; PERES, L. E. P.; RUEDA-RAMIREZ, D.; et al. Combined releases of soil predatory mites and provisioning of free-living nematodes for the biological control of root-knot nematodes on 'Micro Tom tomato'. BIOLOGICAL CONTROL, v. 146, p. 10-pg., 2020-07-01. (16/19747-7, 17/12004-1, 19/06282-4)

AZEVEDO, L. H.; LEITE, L. G.; CHACON-OROZCO, J. G.; MOREIRA, M. F. P.; FERREIRA, M. P.; GONZALEZ-CANO, L. M.; BORGES, V.; RUEDA-RAMIREZ, D.; DE MORAES, G. J.; PALEVSKY, E.. Free living nematodes as alternative prey for soil predatory mites: An interdisciplinary case study of conservation biological control. BIOLOGICAL CONTROL, v. 132, p. 128-134, MAY 2019. (16/19747-7)

AZEVEDO, LETICIA HENRIQUE; FERREIRA, MURILO PRUDENTE; CASTILHO, RAPHAEL DE CAMPOS; DUARTE CANCADOC, PAULO HENRIQUE; DE MORAESA, GILBERTO JOSE. Potential of Macrocheles species (Acari: Mesostigmata: Macrochelidae) as control agents of harmful flies (Diptera) and biology of Macrocheles embersoni Azevedo, Castilho and Berto on Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) and Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae). BIOLOGICAL CONTROL, v. 123, p. 1-8, AUG 2018. (16/19747-7)