A Simple Protocol for Rearing a Native Predatory Mite Neoseiulus indicus

The indigenous phytoseiid predatory mite Neoseiulus indicus (Narayanan and Kaur) was recorded by several Indian researchers as a predator of different species of phytophagous mites including Oligonychus indicus, Tetranychus urticae, T. neocaledonicus, T. ludeni, T. macfarleni, Polyphagotarsonemus latus and the astigmatid mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae. For the first time in the country, a simple protocol has been developed for mass rearing of N. indicus in closed units on the astigmatid mite T. putrescentiae, which in turn could be maintained on a wheat bran medium. Neoseiulus indicus has been successfully and continuously mass reared for more than four years at the ICARNBAIR, Bengaluru, India. A simple release methodology has also been developed for the mass reared predatory mites. This rearing protocol can be adopted by commercial units and also by farmers/polyhouse growers as an on-farm production system.