This README.txt was created by Junlin Cao (University of Auckland) and was updated on 24 Apr 2026

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. Cao J, Zhang Z.-Q. 2026. Stage-specific predation and functional response of predatory mites to greenhouse thrips (Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis) on avocado.

2. Originators

Junlin Cao

3. Contact information

231 Morrin Road, St Johns, Auckland 1072

caoj@landcareresearch.co.nz
zhangz@landcareresearch.co.nz

4. Date of data collection

Mar-May 2025

5. Geographic location(s) of data collection

Auckland, New Zealand


ACCESS INFORMATION

1. Licenses/restrictions placed on the data

CC-BY-NC 4.0 (Attribution-NonCommercial)


DATA FILES AND VARIABLES

Notes:

A. limonicus = Amblydromalus limonicus.
Am. herbicolus = Amblyseius herbicolus.
Am. lentiginosus = Amblyseius lentiginosus.
N. cucumeris = Neoseiulus cucumeris.
H. haemorrhoidalis = Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis.



1. Book1

The no-choice predation test of four predatory mite species feeding on first- and second-instar Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis larvae.

• mite: predatory mite species tested (A. limonicus, Am. herbicolus, Am. lentiginosus, or N. cucumeris)
• thrip: larval stage of Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis offered to the predator (I = first instar or II = second instar)
• No.: replicate number
• add: number of thrips larvae added to each experimental arena
• con: number of thrips larvae consumed after 24 h

2. book2.1

The choice test of Amblydromalus limonicus feeding on first- and second-instar Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis larvae when both prey stages were available.

• no: replicate number
• add: number of thrips larvae added for the corresponding stage
• con: number of thrips larvae consumed after 24 h
• stage: larval stage of Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis (I = first instar or II = second instar)

3. book3.1

The functional response test of Amblydromalus limonicus feeding on first-instar Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis larvae at different initial prey densities.

• rep: replicate number
• add: initial number of first-instar Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis larvae added to each experimental arena
• eat: number of first-instar Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis larvae consumed after 24 h

3. RCode

The R codes used in this study.