Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Animal Production Science Animal Production Science Society
Food, fibre and pharmaceuticals from animals
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > AN > EA08020
REVIEW
Contents Vol 48(12)

Strategies for control of the redlegged earth mite in Australia

T. J. Ridsdill-Smith A B F , A. A. Hoffmann C , G. P. Mangano D , J. M. Gower C , C. C. Pavri E and P. A. Umina C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A CSIRO Entomology, Private Bag 5, Wembley, WA 6913, Australia.

B School of Animal Science, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.

C Centre for Environmental Stress and Adaptation Research, Bio21 Molecular Science Institute, Department of Zoology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia.

D Department of Agriculture and Food of Western Australia, Baron-Hay Court, South Perth, WA 6151, Australia.

E 20 Duckett Drive, Manning, WA 6152, Australia.

F Corresponding author. Email: james.ridsdill-smith@csiro.au

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48(12) 1506-1513 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA08020
Submitted: 7 January 2008  Accepted: 1 July 2008   Published: 6 November 2008

Abstract

The redlegged earth mite, Halotydeus destructor, continues to be an intractable pest causing damage to most crop and pasture species in southern Australia. H. destructor feed on all stages of plants, but particularly damage seedlings in autumn. Research has aimed to develop new controls based on a better understanding of the biology and ecology of this pest. Chemicals remain the key tool to control H. destructor, despite the recent appearance of resistance to synthetic pyrethroids. A control package, Timerite, has been developed by which a single well-timed spray in spring can prevent H. destructor from developing diapause eggs. Field trials show this strategy provides effective control of H. destructor the following autumn, and protects plant seedlings, although mite populations build up again during winter. Non-chemical control strategies include grazing, the use of tolerant plants such as cereals, resistant legume cultivars and avoiding rotations where favourable host plants are available in the year before growing susceptible crops such as canola. Natural enemies can assist in mite control, and their numbers can be enhanced by methods including increasing landscape features like shelterbelts. Interspecific competition can occur between H. destructor and other pest mites, but the extent to which these interactions influence the structure of pest communities under different management regimes remains to be investigated.


Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the many farmers who allowed us on their properties, discussed their pest problems and assisted in setting up and managing trials. We thank growers for financial support for research through Australian Wool Innovation and the Grains Research and Development Corporation.


References


Arthur AL, Hoffmann AA, Umina PA, Weeks AR (2008) Emerging pest mites of grains (Balaustium medicagoense and Bryobia spp.) show high levels of tolerance to currently registered pesticides. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 1126–1132.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Berlandier FA , Baker GJ (2007) Winter oilseeds. In ‘Pests of field crops and pastures: identification and control’. (Ed. PT Bailey) pp. 135–162. (Landlinks Press: Melbourne)

Bishop AL, McKenzie HJ, Barchia IM, Spohr LJ (1998) Efficacy of insecticides against the lucerne flea, Sminthurus viridis (L.) (Collembola: Sminthuridae), and other arthropods in lucerne. Australian Journal of Entomology 37, 40–48.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Brennan RF, Grimm M (1992) Effect of aphids and mites on herbage and seed production of subterranean clover (c.v. Daliak) in response to superphosphate and potash. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 32, 39–47.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Caprioa MA (1997) Insecticide resistance: an ecological genetics perspective. Ecology 78, 964–965. open url image1

Denholm I, Rowland MW (1992) Tactics for managing pesticide resistance in arthropods: theory and practice. Annual Review of Entomology 37, 91–112.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Elzen GW, Hardee DD (2003) United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service research on managing insect resistance to insecticides. Pest Management Science 59, 770–776.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Forrester NW, Cahill M, Bird LJ, Layland JK (1993) Management of pyrethroid and endosulfan resistance in Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Australia. Bulletin of Entomological Research (Suppl. 1), 1–132. open url image1

Gaull KR, Ridsdill-Smith TJ (1996) The foraging behaviour of redlegged earth mite, Halotydeus destructor (Ocarina: Penthaleidae), in an annual subterranean clover pasture. Bulletin of Entomological Research 86, 247–252. open url image1

Georghiou GP (1990) Overview of insecticide resistance. ACS Symposium Series American Chemical Society 421, 8–41. open url image1

Gower JMC, Hoffmann AA, Weeks AR (2008) Effectiveness of spring spraying targeting diapause egg production for controlling red legged earth mite and other pests in pasture. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 1118–1125.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Grimm M, Hyder M, Doyle P, Michael P (1994) The effect of pasture feed on offer in spring on pest populations and pasture production. Proceedings of the Australian Society of Animal Production 20, 233–236. open url image1

Gu H, Fitt GP, Baker GH (2007) Invertebrate pests of canola and their management in Australia: a review. Australian Journal of Entomology 46, 231–243.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Halliday RB (2005) Predatory mites from crops and pastures in South Africa: potential natural enemies of redlegged earth mite Halotydeus destructor (Acari: Penthaleidae). Zootaxa 1079, 11–64. open url image1

Halliday RB, Paull C (2004) Assessment of Chaussieria capensis (Acari: Anystidae) as a predator of Halotydeus destructor (Acari: Penthaleidae). African Entomology 12, 286–290. open url image1

Hemingway J, Hawkes NJ, McCarroll L, Ranson H (2004) The molecular basis of insecticide resistance in mosquitoes. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 34, 653–665.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Hoffmann AA, Porter S, Kovacs I (1997) The response of the major crop and pasture pest, the red-legged earth mite (Halotydeus destructor) to pesticides: dose–response curves and evidence for tolerance. Experimental & Applied Acarology 21, 151–162.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Hopkins DC , McDonald G (2007) Cereals – pests and benefits in the field. In ‘pests of field crops and pastures: identification and control’. (Ed. PT Bailey) pp. 5–62. (Landlinks Press: Melbourne)

Howieson JG, O’Hara GW, Carr SJ (2000) Changing roles for legumes in Mediterranean agriculture: developments from an Australian perspective. Field Crops Research 65, 107–122.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

James DG, O’Malley K, Rayner M (1995) Effect of alphacypermethrin and bifenthrin on the survival of five acarine predators of Halotydeus destructor (Acari: Penthaleidae). Experimental & Applied Acarology 19, 647–654.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Jiang Y, Ghisalberti E, Ridsdill-Smith TJ (1996) Correlation of 1-octen-3-one with antixenotic resistance in subterranean clover cotyledons to redlegged earth mite, Halotydeus destructor (Acarina: Penthaleidae). Journal of Chemical Ecology 22, 369–382.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Krysan JL, Jackson JJ, Lew AC (1984) Field termination of egg diapause in Diabrotica with new evidence of extended diapause in D. barberi (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Environmental Entomology 13, 1237–1240. open url image1

Lake AWH, Howie JH (1995) Selection for redlegged earth mite resistance in annual Medicago species. Plant Protection Quarterly 10, 45–46. open url image1

Levin E, Spencer JL, Isard SA, Onstad DW, Gray ME (2002) Adaptation of the western corn rootworm to crop rotation: evolution of a new strain in response to a management practice. American Entomologist 48, 94–107. open url image1

Liu A , Ridsdill-Smith TJ (2001) Comparison of feeding damage by redlegged earth mite Halotydeus destructor (Tucker) (Acari : Penthaleideae) to different grain legume species as an indicator of potentially resistant lines. In ‘Acarology: Proceedings of the 10th international congress’. (Eds RB Halliday, DE Walter, HC Proctor, RA Norton, MJ Colloff) pp. 295–299. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)

Liu A, Ridsdill-Smith TJ, Nicholas DC (2000) Effect of seedling damage by redlegged earth mite, Halotydeus destructor, on subsequent growth and development of yellow lupin, Lupinus luteus, in the glasshouse. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 51, 113–118.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Maclennan KE, McDonald G, Ward SA (1998) Soil microflora as hosts of red legged earth mite (Halotydeus destructor). Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 86, 319–323.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Mangano GP , Micic S (2008) Redlegged earth mite resistance and integrated strategies for their control in Western Australia. In ‘Agribusiness Crop Updates’. pp. 39–42. (Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia: Perth)

Mangano GP , Severtson DL (2008) A review of pest and disease occurrences for 2007. In ‘Agribusiness Crop Updates’. pp. 88–93. (Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia: Perth)

McDonald G , Hoffmann AA , Ridsdill-Smith TJ (1999) Managing earth mites as establishment pests of Australian canola: a gradual path towards IPM. In ‘Proceedings of the 10th international rapeseed congress: new horizons for an old crop’. (CD-ROM) (Du Groupe Consultatif International de Recherché sur le Cloza)

McDonald GM, Moritz K, Merton E, Hoffmann AA (1995) The biology and behaviour of redlegged earth mite and blue oat mite on crop plants. Plant Protection Quarterly 10, 52–55. open url image1

Merton E, McDonald G, Hoffmann AA (1995) Cultural control of red legged earth mite, blue oat mite and lucerne flea in canola. Plant Protection Quarterly 10, 65–66. open url image1

Michael P (1995) Biological control of redlegged earth mite and lucerne flea by predators Anystis wallacei and Neomologus capillatus. Plant Protection Quarterly 10, 55–57. open url image1

Michael PJ , Grimm M , Hyder MW , Doyle PT , Mangano GP (1997) Effects of pasture pest damage and grazing management on efficiency of animal production. Project DAW 048 Meat Research Corporation, Department of Agriculture Western Australia, South Perth.

Miles MM , Baker GJ , Hawthorne W (2007) Pulses-winter. In ‘Pests of field crops and pastures: identification and control’. (Ed. PT Bailey) pp. 260–277. (Landlinks Press: Melbourne)

Pavri C (2007) Legume pastures. In ‘Pests of field crops and pastures: identification and control’. (Ed. PT Bailey) pp. 408–420. (Landlinks Press: Melbourne)

Penman DR, Chapman RB (1988) Pesticide-induced mite outbreaks: pyrethroids and spider mites. Experimental & Applied Acarology 4, 265–276.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Phillips JR, Graves JB, Luttrell RG (1989) Insecticide resistance management: relationship to integrated pest management. Pesticide Science 27, 459–464.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Qin TK (1997) Population genetics of redlegged earth mites Halotydeus destructor and H. anthropus (Acarina: Penthaleidae) from Australia and/or South Africa. Bulletin of Entomological Research 87, 289–298. open url image1

Ridsdill-Smith TJ (1997) Biology and control of Halotydeus destructor (Tucker) (Acarina: Penthaleidae): a review. Experimental & Applied Acarology 21, 195–224. open url image1

Ridsdill-Smith TJ, Annells AJ (1997) Seasonal occurrence and abundance of redlegged earth mite, Halotydeus destructor (Acarina: Penthaleidae) in annual pastures of southwestern Australia. Bulletin of Entomological Research 87, 413–423. open url image1

Ridsdill-Smith TJ , Nichols PGH (1998) Development of pasture legumes resistant to redlegged earth mite. In ‘Proceedings of the 6th Australasian applied entomology conference. Vol. 1’. (Eds MP Zalucki, RAI Drew, GG White) pp. 382–389. (University of Queensland: Brisbane)

Ridsdill-Smith J, Pavri C (1998) Spring spraying for redlegged earth mite. Australian Grain 8, i–iv. open url image1

Ridsdill-Smith TJ, Pavri CC (2000) Feeding life style of redlegged earth mite, Halotydeus destructor (Acari: Penthaleidae), in pastures and the role of broad-leafed weeds. Experimental & Applied Acarology 24, 397–414.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Ridsdill-Smith J, Pavri C, De Boer E, Kriticos D (2005) Predictions of summer diapause in the redlegged earth mite, Halotydeus destructor (Acari: Penthaleidae), in Australia. Journal of Insect Physiology 51, 717–726.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Roberts JMK, Umina PA, Hoffmann AA, Weeks AR (In press) The susceptibility and tolerance of the lucerne flea, Sminthurus viridis, to currently registered pesticides in Australia. Australian Journal of Entomology , open url image1

Robinson MT, Hoffmann AA (2000) Additional tests on the effects of pesticides on cryptic species of blue oat mite (Penthaleus spp.) and the redlegged earth mite (Halotydeus destructor). Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 40, 671–678.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Robinson MT, Hoffmann AA (2001) The pest status and distribution of three cryptic blue oat mite species (Penthaleus spp.) and the red legged earth mite (Halotydeus destructor) in south-eastern Australia. Experimental & Applied Acarology 25, 699–716.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Thackray DJ, Ridsdill-Smith TJ, Gillespie DJ (1997a) Susceptibility of grain legume species to redlegged earth mite (Halotydeus destructor Tucker) damage at the seedling stage. Plant Protection Quarterly 12, 141–144. open url image1

Thackray DJ, Ridsdill-Smith TJ, Gillespie DJ (1997b) Mass rearing Halotydeus destructor (Tucker) (Acari: Penthaleidae) for use in summer screening of Trifolium subterraneum (L.) for mite resistance. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 37, 343–349.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Tsitsilas A, Stuckey S, Hoffmann AA, Weeks AR, Thomson LJ (2006) Shelterbelts in agricultural landscapes suppress invertebrate pests. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46, 1379–1388.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Umina PA (2007) Pyrethroid resistance discovered in a major agricultural pest in southern Australia: the redlegged earth mite Halotydeus destructor (Acari : Penthaleidae). Pest Management Science 63 1185 1190

Umina PA, Hoffmann AA (1999) Tolerance of cryptic species of blue oat mites (Penthaleus spp.) and the redlegged earth mite (Halotydeus destructor) to pesticides. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 39, 621–628.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Umina PA, Hoffmann AA (2003) Diapause and implications for control of Penthaleus species and Halotydeus destructor (Acari: Penthaleidae) in southeastern Australia. Experimental & Applied Acarology 31, 209–223.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Umina PA, Hoffmann AA (2004) Plant host associations of Penthaleus species and Halotydeus destructor (Acari: Penthaleidae) and implications for integrated pest management. Experimental & Applied Acarology 33, 1–20.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Umina PA, Hoffmann AA (2005) Competitive interactions among four pest species of earth mites (Acari: Penthaleidae). Journal of Economic Entomology 98, 307–316.
|  CAS | PubMed |
open url image1

Umina PA, Hoffmann AA, Weeks AR (2004) Biology, ecology and control of the Penthaleus species complex (Acari: Penthaleidae). Experimental & Applied Acarology 34, 211–237.
| PubMed |
open url image1

Wallace MMH, Mahon JA (1963) The effect of insecticide treatment on the yield and botanical composition of sown pastures in Western Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 3, 39–50.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Wallace MMH, Mahon JA (1971) The distribution of Halotydeus destructor and Penthaleus major (Acari: Eupodidae) in Australia in relation to climate and land use. Australian Journal of Zoology 19, 65–76.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Wang SF, Liu AY, Ridsdill-Smith TJ, Ghisalberti EL (2000) Role of alkaloids in resistance of yellow lupin to the redlegged earth mite Halotydeus destructor. Journal of Chemical Ecology 26, 429–441.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Wang SF, Ridsdill-Smith TJ, Ghisalberti EL (2005) Chemical defences of Trifolium glanduliferum against redlegged earth mite Halotydeus destructor. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 53, 6240–6245.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Weeks AR, Hoffmann AA (1998) Intense selection of mite clones in a heterogeneous environment. Evolution 52, 1325–1333.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Weeks AR, Hoffmann AA (1999) The biology of Penthaleus species in south eastern Australia. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 92, 179–189.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Weeks AR, Hoffmann AA (2000) Competitive interactions between two pest species of earth mites, Halotydeus destructor and Penthaleus major (Acarina: Penthaleidae). Journal of Economic Entomology 93, 1183–1191.
|  CAS | PubMed |
open url image1

Weeks AR, Fripp YJ, Hoffmann AA (1995) Genetic structure of Halotydeus destructor and Penthaleus major populations in Victoria (Acari: Penthaleidae). Experimental & Applied Acarology 19, 633–646.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Weeks AR, Turelli M, Hoffmann AA (2000) Dispersal patterns of pest earth mite species (Acari: Penthaleidae) in pastures and crops. Journal of Economic Entomology 93, 1415–1423.
|  CAS | PubMed |
open url image1

Young JM, Ridsdill-Smith TJ, Gillespie DJ, Michael PJ (1995) The value of reducing redlegged earth mite damage in pastures and the impact on optimal farm strategies for the great southern region of Western Australia. Plant Protection Quarterly 10, 67–68. open url image1