In vitro and micro-plot predatory activity of the mite Caloglyphus mycophagus against populations of nematode larvae of agricultural importance

The present study evaluated the in vitro and micro-plot predatory activity of the mite Caloglyphus mycophagus against Haemonchus contortus (L3) and Nacobbus aberrans (J2). To determine the in vitro predation of the mite, four groups were formed in Petri dishes: (1) 5,000-H. contortus, (2) 1,000-N. aberrans (3) 5,000-H. contortus and 5 mites and (4) 1,000-N. aberrans and 5 mites. The plates were kept for 15 days at 28 degrees C. For the evaluation of micro-plots with mites against nematodes, Italian ryegrass was used, and additionally, micro-plots with faecesivermectin/nematodes/mites were used over 15, 30 and 45 days. At each time, two control groups were formed containing 5,000 larvae of H. contortus and 1,000 s-stage juveniles of N. aberrans, respectively, and two treated groups containing the same amounts of nematodes as the controls and 5 mites on each micro-plot. The results showed an in vitro reduction of 72.86% for N. aberrans and 42.17% for H. contortus. For the micro-plot experiment at 45 days, the percentage of reduction was 78.95 and 63.16% for H. contortus and N. aberrans, respectively. In the case of the micro-plots with ivermectin, mite mortality was 100%. The mite C. mycophagus showed activity in vitro , in the micro-plot against H. contortus and N. aberrans. In addition, we provide evidence that iver-mectin in cattle faeces leads to a 100% mortality for C. mycophagus in micro-plots.

Automated summary

The study evaluated the in vitro and micro-plot predatory activity of the mite Caloglyphus mycophagus against Haemonchus contortus (L3) and Nacobbus aberrans (J2). Results showed that the mite had in vitro predation activity against both nematodes, with significant reduction percentages. Additionally, mortality of mites in micro-plots containing ivermectin was 100%.