Galendromus annectens

Host Mites: Persea mite, Avocado brown mite
Host Plants: Avocado

This predator has five life stages; egg, larvae, protonymph, deutonymph, adult. As with all arthropods (insects, mites) their rate of increase is dependent on the temperature. It completes a generation in one to two weeks depending on the average temperature (12.6 days at 64° F, 4.8 days at 90°F).

It lays one or two eggs per day with a total fecundity of 28 eggs, which is less than G. helveolus (40 eggs). It is somewhat smaller than other predatory mites and lives about 22 days. The larvae stage of the predator can feed on spider mite eggs and larvae.

It can survive, but not reproduce, on pollen, which may enable it to survive periods when host mite numbers are low.

Galendromus annectens is among the smallest known phytoseiids and this probably allows it to reproduce on low quantities of food and hide in places inaccessible to larger predators.

This predatory mite is well adapted to the Persea mite (Oligonychus persea). It can penetrate the dense protective webbing formed by the Persea mite to protect its eggs and it feeds on all stages of the pest. Releases of annectens can be made when the Persea mite is present and laying eggs.

Release 2,000 - 5,000 G. annectens per acre, depending on level of infestation. Approximately 100 predators should be placed on each tree in the grove. Place a small paper lunch bag around a cluster of several leaves at the end of the branch and staple the bag to the leaves. Place a portion of the grit predator material in each bag. The predators crawl onto the leaves and begin feeding on the Persea mite.

They take about 3 months to spread around on avocado trees from a single release site. Therefore, release on every tree is advised.

Avoid using pesticides one week prior to and one week after release of the predators.

It is recommended for mite control that a minimum of 3-4 releases will be needed in an indoor area (Greenhouse, Grow room, etc...)

Also see Galendromus occidentalis

157601 1,000 Galendromus annectens (.3#)  $30.00

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• UC Riverside, The Biology and Management of the Persea Mite