Hibernation Sites of Phytoseiids (Acarina: Phytoseiidae) in Ontario Peach Orchards

Abstract

A number of authors who have mentioned phytoseiid mites as predators of tetranychids reported that “Seius” or “Seiulus” spp. hibernated in the bark of trees, but until recently the taxonomy of the Phytoseiidae was so confused that the identity of the species concerned is uncertain. Herbert (1952), in Nova Scotia,was apparently the first to deal with species that can be definitely identified; she reported that a number of species of Typhlodromus, including most of those occurring on peach in Ontario, overwintered on apple trees under bark scales, in empty hibernacula of the eye-spotted bud moth, Spilonota ocellana (D. & S.), in empty oyster-shell scales, Lepidosaphes ulmi (L.), and in cocoons of the codling moth, Carpocapsa pomonella (L.). Chant (1958) found numbers of T. pyri Scheut. hibernating in burlap pads tied to apple trees in England.