In vitro predatory activity of Lasioseius penicilliger (Arachnida: Mesostigmata) against three nematode species: Teladorsagia circumcincta, Meloidogyne sp and Caenorhabditis elegans

The aim of this study was to evaluate the predatory behavior in vitro of the mite Lasioseius penicilliger on 3 nematode species: Teladorsagia circumcincta (L-3) (a sheep-parasitic nematode), Meloidogyne sp. (J(2)) (a plantparasitic nematode), and on various developmental stages of Caenorhabditis elegans (a free-living nematode). The coincubation of mites and nematodes was individually assessed in 2% water agar placed in plastic Petri dishes (2 cm x 1 cm diameter). One thousand nematodes of a species and 5 mites were placed into each plate (10 replicates) and incubated for 5 days at room temperature (18-25 degrees C). L. penicilliger showed predatory behavior against the 3 assessed nematode species. The percentages of predatory activity recorded were 95.1, 80.5 and 79.3 against Meloidogyne sp., C. elegans, and T. circumcincta, respectively (P <= 0.05). These results suggest that L. penicilliger has important potential as a biological control agent of parasitic nematodes.