- Feltiella acarisuga
Taxobox | name = "Feltiella acarisuga"
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Arthropod a
classis =Insect a
subclassis =Pterygota
infraclassis =Neoptera
superordo =Endopterygota
ordo = Diptera
subordo =Nematocera
infraordo =Bibionomorpha
superfamilia =Sciaroidea
familia =Cecidomyiidae
subfamilia =Cecidomyiinae
supertribus =Cecidomyiidi
tribus =Cecidomyiini
genus = "Feltiella "
species = "F. acarisuga"
binomial = "Feltiella acarisuga"
binomial_authority = (Vallot, 1827)
synonyms = *"Cecidomyia acarisuga" Vallot, 1827
*"Feltiella persicae" (Kieffer, 1912)
*"Feltiella tetranychi" Rübsaamen, 1910
*"Therodiplosis persicae" Kieffer, 1912"Feltiella acarisuga" is a
predatory gall midge which will feed on various species ofspider mite s. It is especially common when spider mites occur in colonies. It requires a high spider mite density and high humidities to become established.Mode of action
Adult gall-midges search for spider mite colonies actively and deposit eggs next to the spider mites. The larvae that hatch feed on spider mite eggs and suck them empty. It takes one week for the eggs to develop to mature larvae. The pupal stage takes approximately one week. Spider mites that are killed by the gall-midge shrivel up and become brown or black. Dozens of larvae can be found per spider mite infested leaf. White cocoons can be visible along the veins of the leaf.
Use in biocontrol
"Feltiella acarisuga" can be used to manage spider mite populations in a variety of greenhouse and field crops. Each midge larva can consume an average of least 15 adult mites, 30 mixed developmental stages, or 80 eggs per day. F.acarasuga has been extremely effective for controlling spider mites on tomato, pepper and cucumber. F. acarisuga is also used to manage spider mites on strawberries and various ornamental crops.
External Links
* [http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/beneficial/f_acarisuga.htm "Feltiella acarisuga", a predatory gall midge] on the
UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site
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