MITE POPULATIONS ON GRAPEVINES IN SOUTH-EASTERN AUSTRALIA - IMPLICATIONS FOR BIOLOGICAL-CONTROL OF GRAPEVINE MITES (ACARINA, TENUIPALPIDAE,ERIOPHYIDAE)

Pest and predatory mite populations were monitored over a 2 year perio d on grapevines in three viticultural regions of southern Australia (T he Riverlands, Sunraysia and Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area [MIA]). The mite pests Brevipalpus spp., Colomerus vitis (Pagenstecher) and Calepi trimerus vitis (Nalepa) occurred in each region with a predatory mite fauna which showed considerable inter-regional variation in incidence, abundance and composition. Nine species of Phytoseiidae, the dominant predatory mite family, were recorded inhabiting grapevines. In the Ri verlands, mite populations were apparently suppressed by two phytoseii ds (Typhlodromus doreenae Schicha, Amblyseius victoriensis (Womersley) ) in vineyards on which no insecticide was used and on which sulphur a nd copper were used to control vine diseases. In Sunraysia and MIA, vi neyards which generally had greater inputs of synthetic pesticides, pa rticularly fungicides, five to eight phytoseiid species were recorded. However, they were less abundant and appeared to have less impact on mite (particularly Brevipalpus spp.) populations. The population dynam ics of pest and predatory mites on grapevines in southern Australia an d implications for mite management based on biological control are dis cussed with respect to pesticide (particularly fungicide) inputs and p hytoseiid biology/ecology.