Effect of ground cover management on the biological control of spider mites in clementine mandarin orchards

Abstract: Tetranychus urticae is an important pest of citrus. To determine the effect of the management of the ground cover on the biological control of this mite, we have studied the dynamics of both Tetranychidae and Phytoseiidae mites in four commercial clementine mandarin orchards under three different cover management strategies: (1) bare soil, (2) resident wild cover and (3) a sown cover of Festuca arundinacea. Our results provide evidence that both natural enemies and plant resources play important regulatory roles.