Is there potential for using Czenspinskia transversostriata in biocontrol?

Abstract: Czenspinskia transversostriata (Oudemans) is a leaf-dwelling astigmatid mite
belonging to the Winterschmidtiidae. Here, we explore whether there is potential to use this
mite in biological control. We first assessed its nutritional value for the predatory mite
Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) (Acari: Phytoseiidae). An egg-laying trial revealed that C. transversostriata is an equally good food source as compared to a pollen and prey mite control food. In a next step, we showed that C. transversostriata can be used to establish a population of A. swirskii on cucumber plants. Finally, we show that C. transversostriata can feed on plant pathogenic fungi.