◆Research findings by a group Medical School, have been published in the Dutch journal *Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata*.
Release Date:
Study reveals that social mites work together to ward off predators
~ "Neighborhood Patrols" Triggered by Stimulation of the Nest Web ~
高知大学総合科学系生命環境医学部門の伊藤桂教授、農林海洋科学部卒業生 千田麻衣子さん、水口知洋さんらの研究グループは、常緑広葉樹のアラカシに寄生するカシノキマタハダニSchizotetranychus brevisetosusが捕食者に対して積極的に反撃行動を取ること、さらにその行動が物理的刺激によって誘発されることを明らかにしました。
The oak leaf mite, which parasitizes the Japanese oak, forms a web and lives inside it. When tiny glass beads are sprinkled onto the web of this mite, many adult females emerge from the web and begin patrolling; upon finding the eggs of predatory mites placed around the web, they exhibit aggressive behavior by piercing and killing them with their mouthparts.
Such behavior has never been reported in mites before and is believed to be a social behavior that evolved independently over time.
Furthermore, some spider mites are notorious as agricultural pests that are difficult to control. Until now, little attention has been paid to how the “behavior induced by physical stimulation” revealed in this study affects reproduction. While we observed “counterattacks against predators” in this study, the associated loss of reproductive capacity (cost) remains unclear. If physical stimulation reduces the reproductive capacity of spider mites, it could potentially aid in their control as agricultural pests.
These findings were published on May 10, 2025, in the international entomology journal *Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata* (Journal of the Entomological Society of the Netherlands).
[Paper Information]
Title: Evaluation of the effectiveness of counterattacks against predators in Schizotetranychus brevisetosus using small glass beads and phytoseiid eggs
Authors: Maiko Chida, Tomohiro Mizuguchi, Katsura Ito
所属：高知大学農林海洋科学部
Journal Title: Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata
DOI: 10.1111/eea.13590
Published: May 10, 2025