Distribution of predatory phytoseiid mites in commercial cider apple orchards and unsprayed apple trees in the UK: Implications for biocontrol of phytophagous mites

A survey of predatory phytoseiid mites in commercial cider orchards over a five-year period showed that Typhlodromus pyri Scheuten was the most abundant species, but that Phytoseius macropilis (Banks) and Euseius finlandicus (Oudemans) were also common. The presence of these species may be a result of the different pesticide application regimes in cider compared with dessert apple orchards. In unsprayed apple trees the above three species were the most abundant, but Amblyseius andersoni (Chant), Paraseiulus soleiger (Ribaga) and Kampimodromus aberrans (Oudemans) were also locally abundant. The effect of the cooccurrence of these species on the biocontrol of phytophagous mites is discussed.