Associated plant species can provide shelter for a large number of organisms, including predatory mites. This study aimed to identify the associated plants with the greatest potential for natural enemies, in order to establish forms of biological control. The study was conducted in Boqueirão do Leão and Dois Lajeados counties, from March 2006 to February 2007, and in Candiota and Bento GONÇALVES counties, from October 2006 to September 2007, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The mites were collected monthly on 5 plant species commonly found inside or outside the grapevine crop. The plants were evaluated under a stereoscopic microscope, and a total of 1036 mites of the Phytoseiidae, Stigmaeidae, and Iolinidae families were found. Eighty plant species were sampled, for a total of 506 samples. Examination revealed 110 specimens on Sonchus oleraceus L., 105 on Plantago tomentosa Lam., 97 on Chromolaena Laevigata (Lam) R. M. King & H. Rob., and 75 on Solanum americanum Mill. Pronematus anconai, 1944, was the most abundant species, with 618 specimens present on 44 plants, followed by Transeius lisei, with 112 specimens, Typhlodromalus aripo Deleon, 1967, with 50 specimens, and Arrenoseius gaucho, FERLA et al. 2010 with 68 specimens. Plants associated to the grapevine have a large number of predatory mites, and they can be a reservoir of natural enemies for the control of pest mites in this crop. Thus, these plants can be used in strategies involving the use of biological control programs.
Natural enemies; predatory mites; phytophagous mites; Phytoseiidae; Stigmaeidae