Re-discovery of anystis baccarum

*Present address: Dr Andrew G. S. Cuthbertson, Central Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, U.K. Tel.: +44 (0) 1904 462201; Fax: +44 (0) 1904 462111; E-mail: a.cuthbertson@csl.gov.uk

The value of pest natural enemies in cropping systems is often underrated and may only be rendered apparent by the effects of their absence. In many cases, fruit growers can be unaware of important predators or parasitoids, either because they are cryptic and taxonomically difficult or simply because they have been little studied in that particular environment. The latter would apply to Anystis baccarum, the 'whirli-gig' mite (so called due to its spiralling running pattern over branches and foliage of trees), in the Bramley's Seedling apple orchards of County Armagh. This is a comparatively large (1.0-1.5mm in diameter) and mobile beneficial mite which feeds upon any prey item it can overpower. The genus Anystis has been recorded before in Ulster's apple orchards but until now no individual species had been identified (Cuthbertson and Murchie, 2004a; Cuthbertson, 2005). The mite was collected in various sampling traps placed on branches of the apple trees during a survey of the invertebrate fauna that occur in apple orchards (Cuthbertson and Murchie, 2005a). It was identified by the author (Cuthbertson, AGS), with confirmation being made by colleagues from the Natural History Museum, London.

Apple orchards, due to their relative stability, are home to a wide range of both pest and beneficial species. It is well documented that in unsprayed orchards the biodiversity of natural enemy fauna is capable of controlling pest species populations. Anystis baccarum readily feeds upon the economically important invertebrate pest species that occur in local Bramley orchards, and indeed has been shown to offer a degree of control in some instances (Cuthbertson et al., 2003a,b; Cuthbertson and Murchie, 2004b). The re-discovery of A. baccarum occurring within local apple orchards adds a major component to the natural enemy biodiversity in aiding the control of pest species. By encouraging the development of beneficial fauna populations to help keep pest species in check, chemical pesticide applications can be reduced, therefore, minimising unnecessary detrimental effects to the environment and non-target species. Local apple growers should be encouraged to recognise this beneficial mite and work to conserve its populations within their orchards (Cuthbertson and Murchie, 2003; Cuthbertson, 2004; Cuthbertson and Murchie, 2005b).

Cuthbertson, A.G.S. (2004). Unnecessary pesticide applications in Northern Ireland apple orchards due to mis-identification of a beneficial mite species. Research Journal of Chemistry and Environment 8 (3): 77-78.

Cuthbertson, A.G.S. (2005). Re-discovery of a predatory mite in Northern Irish apple orchards. Biodiversity News 30 (1): 29.

Cuthbertson, A. G. S. and Murchie, A. K. (2003). The need for proper identification of beneficial and pest species in the Bramley apple orchards.

Cuthbertson, A.G.S. and Murchie, A.K. (2004a). The presence of Anystis baccarum (L.) in Northern Ireland Bramley apple orchards. Irish Naturalists' Journal 27: 465-467.

Cuthbertson, A.G.S. and Murchie, A.K. (2004b). The phenology, oviposition and feeding rate of Anystis baccarum, a predatory mite in Bramley apple orchards in Northern Ireland. Experimental and Applied Acarology 34: 367-373.

Cuthbertson, A.G.S. and Murchie, A.K. (2005a). Techniques for environmental monitoring of predatory fauna on branches of Bramley apple trees in Northern Ireland. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology. In press.

Cuthbertson, A.G.S. and Murchie, A.K. (2005b). Dyna-mite in Northern Irish orchards! The Fruit Grower. In press.

Cuthbertson, A.G.S., Bell, A.C. and Murchie, A.K. (2003a). The impact of the predatory mite Anystis baccarum on apple rust mite (Aculus schlechtendali) populations in Northern Ireland Bramley orchards. Annals of Applied Biology 142: 107-114.

Cuthbertson, A.G.S., Fleming, C.C. and Murchie, A.K. (2003b). Detection of Rhopalosiphum insertum (apple-grass aphid) predation by the predatory mite Anystis baccarum using molecular gut analysis. Agricultural and Forest Entomology 5: 219-225