Preventive inoculation of Pronematus ubiquitous averts crop damage and population development of the tomatos russet mite, Aculops lycopersici

The tomato russet mite, Aculops lycopersici, is a major tomato pest worldwide and only few methods of control are available - currently no biocontrol agent. We assessed the efficacy of the iolinid mite Pronematus ubiquitus to control the tomato russet mite TRM (Aculops lycopersici) in a preventive strategy in comparison with a curative treatment. Pronematus ubiquitus established quickly and was able to successfully control the pest populations. The curative treatment with sulphur could stop the progress of the pest, and stabilized their population at very high levela. As consequence Pronematus ubiquitus has great potential to prevent the establishment of the tomato russet mite. Even though a curative treatment is equivalent in control efficacy, the use of a preventive method based on a benficial arthtropds is more interesting to be integrated into integrated pest management programmes.