Predator mites

Controlling pests of bamboo

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Van-isle-bamboo
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Predator mites

Post by Van-isle-bamboo »

I just heard about a predator mite sold for bamboo from a Nursary here on Vancouver island. amblyseius fallacis is the name of it. Has anyone had any luck with it or heard anything? I did a quick net search and I couldn't find any real life reports. Could this be something great....has anyone tried predators for other plants and had good luck?
johnw
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Re: Predator mites

Post by johnw »

Not sure about that particular mite but it has to be one that specifically will control bamboo mites. If you google bamboo mites you will find the specific predatory mite but I understand it has not been approved for Europe yet so doubt it is here. The BM is not so easy to attack due to its unique webbing and life cycle apparently.
johnw coastal Nova Scotia
Van-isle-bamboo
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Re: Predator mites

Post by Van-isle-bamboo »

Hi John.

From my understanding this predator does go after bamboo mites. I was talking with a lady at Russle Nursary and she had a problem with BM and after the predators were introduced it's been eradicated. She said it took two years for the damage to look resolved but I'm guessing that's because of the introduction time and the already damaged leafs and the larger infestation. The predator is made in Victoria BC

http://appliedbio-nomics.com

This predator is said to thrive in the PNW climate. It also overwinters here.
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Re: Predator mites

Post by johnw »

I'd give the folks at Bamboo Garden in Oregon a call to confirm that.

johnw
johnw coastal Nova Scotia
Van-isle-bamboo
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Re: Predator mites

Post by Van-isle-bamboo »

That's a good idea. Hopeful they have used them, fingers crossed.
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Re: Predator mites

Post by ocimum_nate »

I have used them at my job to control spider mites they do like higher humidity levels not sure about bamboo mites though
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Re: Predator mites

Post by johnw »

Have a look here:

http://www.bamboogarden.com/pests.htm

and checkout the link at the end:

http://www.evergreengrowers.com/catalog ... amboo+mite

Then search "bamboo mite" and look at the 2 pages which include various Amblyseius including fallacis. I guess you have to decide which mite you have as I understand there are 2 type (2 species), on south and one west, the predator may not attack the one you have.
johnw coastal Nova Scotia
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Re: Predator mites

Post by johnw »

Here's the response from buddy in Germany:

Dear John, they sell this species in Europe as well. I don't know any study proving it works with bamboo mites.
On the other hand you can find already predatory mites on bamboos in Europe without putting any on the plants (a study from the Netherland some 5 years ago).
I gave a presentation on the mite problem 4 years ago in Switzerland at an EBS meeting, might be interesting for you.
Be clement with my english translation, I did it in the hour before the talk.

Best, Steffen
johnw coastal Nova Scotia
Van-isle-bamboo
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Re: Predator mites

Post by Van-isle-bamboo »

I agree that it's not a for sure fix for a BM problem. My only hopes for this to possibly work stems from a lady at the Russle Nursary who said that her BM problem was resolved after two years with this predator in her grove. I would like to be optimistic but it is hard to be because the BM seems to be this "super pest". I can't give up on trying all possible options to eradicate this minor mite problem that I have here.
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Re: Predator mites

Post by Nicholas »

I wonder if Stethorus punctillum would also go for bamboo mites.
Van-isle-bamboo
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Re: Predator mites

Post by Van-isle-bamboo »

I haven't heard of that one Nicholas. To be honest I really don't know to much on the whole predator mite thing. One thing is for sure is that I have continued to go after these little monsters with avid, judo,neem oil/soap mixes, and soon to be Talstar. I spent 750$ last year to eradicate these guys and I figured I would go the chemical way first. I found out about the predator mites after I had already been spraying and I'm not to sure on the survival rates of the predators with the chemicals I have used.

I will look into it though thanks. :)
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Re: Predator mites

Post by Van-isle-bamboo »

I have now applied predator mites twice. 1000 released in the late summer of 2014 and then 3000 in the spring of 2015. This year was super super dry and hot. Perfect weather for the BM to multiply.

Results are as followed:

Some stands of boo still show damage on last years culms. Most of the newer culms are not damaged but all damaged boo last year was thinned and disposed of. The BM seems to like the shoots from the previous years growth. A fair number of my groves don't have any BM on them but I'm not sure if this was the chemical result from the the 2014 spring applications. Most BM damage I see this fall is on the P. Meyeri, indocalamus tessalatus, and a shimofuri sasa. Nigra henon had a small whip shoot infested but I cut if off.

My conclusion is that I'm not sure if they are working to eradicate them 100 percent or if they might be just controlling them. The place I purchased them off say it's a two year program to get rid of them but I'm thinking that they shouldn't me multiplying and showing damage on the culms that were good before i released them.

I have contacted them and I am awaiting a response for the actions they suggest I take next. I'm not going to keep forking over money on a predator that just " might " work. I want to know from them how many fallacis they suggest to release I order to eradicate them. If this works then we could be on a to something. If not then it's just back to chemicals I go.
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Re: Predator mites

Post by Alan_L »

Thanks for the update on this. Keep posting info as you get it please!
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Re: Predator mites

Post by mattlang »

Hey guys... I thought I would chime in on this one. The supplier mentioned they have had great success in the Netherlands with amblyseius fallacis on bamboo mites. These tests were done on a large scale. University of Oregon has also done trials with this predatory mite as well.

This year I am going to trial them on an actual bamboo environment at my nursery. I'm trying to get away from chemicals as much as I can.

I have applied 2500 of these predator mites on a 2000 sq/ft portion at my nursery this past Fall 2015. This is also a higher application rate than the supplier recommends. But their rate is based from tomato crops. Bamboo is much taller and much more foliage. There hasn't been an official run on bamboo crops before in Canada. This will be a good test to determine effectiveness and application rate.

Before Winter time is when they also feed. So next spring is when I'll see what kind of results I have achieved. Hopefully it is effective as they have said it will be. I don't really have an infestation but this is more of a preventative measure as bamboo mites keep reappearing on the odd plants. They truly are the super pest and difficult to eradicate.


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johnw
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Re: Predator mites

Post by johnw »

mattlang wrote:The supplier mentioned they have had great success in the Netherlands with amblyseius fallacis on bamboo mites.
Matt - Can you find out who in Holland did that testing? I'd like to get their report.

Just back from Vancouver where Spring is happening. Nice Chusquea montana at the Asian Garden.
johnw coastal Nova Scotia
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