The active ingredient in Anderline - the predatory mite Amblyseius andersoni – pictured above and left, is commonly found on apple trees, raspberries and grape vines in much of Europe and North America. As a native species in the UK, it is not subject to restrictions on release, unlike some other predatory mite species.
Several different release rates were tested, with releases made in early April 2009 using water resistant Gemini sachets. By July of that year, A. andersoni was the commonest mite on the leaves in all the plots, although as expected, numbers where correlated with the number of sachets used per hectare. In leaf samples, they were about five times more abundant that T. pyri. Spider mites were still present on the crop, but not at damaging levels
Figure 1 Number of A. andersoni sachets per hectare
Figure 2 Number of Amblyseius andersoni on 100 apple leaves in 2009 and 2010
Surprisingly, by June 2010, spider mites had disappeared from all but one of the plots, and even there they were present in very low numbers. A. andersoni were still present in good numbers, as were T. pyri.
Surprisingly, by June 2010, spider mites had disappeared from all but one of the plots, and even there they were present in very low numbers. A. andersoni were still present in good numbers, as were T. pyri.
- Amblyseius andersoni is known to eat spider mites, including the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae, and the fruit tree spider mite Panonychus ulmi.
- Laboratory studies have also shown it to be a voracious predator of the Eriophyid pest Leaf and Bud Mite on raspberry.
- A recent HDC funded study found A. andersoni to be the commonest predatory mites overwintering on raspberry canes in the UK.
- It was also found to overwinter on strawberries.
In the absence of spider mites or Eriophyids, A. andersoni can feed on pollen and fungal spores – in fact treatment with fungicides on grapes has been shown to reduce populations of this predatory mite as a direct result of the reduction in available food.
The product is available in slow release Gemini sachets, which are:-
- Water resistant
- Suitable for use out of doors.
- Provide release of mites over several weeks
- Provide optimum control and improved establishment