Minimal costs associated with tray rearing of amblyseius largoensis (muma) for the control of polyphagotarsonemus latus (banks) in pepper

Abstract

The minimal cost associated with mass rearing of the predatory mite Amblyseius largoensis was determined to control the phytophagous mite Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) in the protected production of pepper. For the analysis, the production of predatory mites necessary was estimated and they were compared with acaricides for the control of P. latus in these systems, Mitigan (dicofol 0.27 kg ai.ha-1) and Enntador (spirodiclofen 0.4-0, 5 L PC.ha-1) and with the import costs of the predatory mites Amblyseius swirki (Athias-Henriot) and Amblyseius cucumeris (Oudemans). From this study was posible to conclude that a hectare of protected production demands approximately 20,000 predators, producing them has a cost of $ 285.90 in MN and $ 4.98 USD, which implies a saving in foreign currency between $ 13.08 and $ 39.72 USD for products chemicals and significant savings of $ 39.02 and $ 14.72 USD for imports of A. swirki and A. cucumeris respectively.