Vol.:(0123456789) Experimental and Applied Acarology (2020) 82:493–501 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-020-00570-7 1 3 Efects of thermal shock on the survival and reproduction of Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) Priscilla C. Gobbi 1  · Juliano L. P. Duarte 1  · Lucas R. da Silva 1  · Dori E. Nava 2  · Gustavo Sessa Fialho 3  · Uemerson S. da Cunha 1  · Adriane da F. Duarte 1 Received: 21 May 2020 / Accepted: 6 November 2020 / Published online: 11 November 2020 © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020 Abstract The responses of arthropods to thermal stress are vital in ecological studies in order to understand survival, development, and reproduction. However, this subject is poorly addressed. In the order Mesostigmata, an abundance of species lives in the soil. Among these species, Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Womersley) is a predator used in the control of pest organisms that live in the soil. Mites of this species are commercialized in several coun‑ tries, including Brazil, presenting efciency in pest control in several crops. The objec‑ tive of this study was to evaluate the efect of thermal shock on S. scimitus females, as well as to monitor the temperature variation in the environment. For each temperature, 80 experimental units were assembled for diferent periods (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 h). Experimen‑ tal units were maintained at 25 °C, after exposure of the mites. Mortality and oviposition were evaluated. The results showed a 40% reduction in the survival of mites exposed to 37 °C for 4 h, compared to the control treatment (25 °C). Oviposition was less afected at 1 h exposure to temperatures of 19 and 12 °C and thermic fuctuation was observed in the greenhouse, especially inside the slabs. Understanding temperature efects in mites and the thermic fuctuation in the environment is essential to achieve satisfactory results in biological control. It is important to observe the scenario in which predatory mites will be released as these aspects are decisive in predatory activity. Keywords Biological control · Predatory mites · Temperature · Thermal fuctuations * Priscilla C. Gobbi priscillagobbi@hotmail.com 1 Departamento de Fitossanidade, Faculdade de Agronomia Eliseu Maciel (FAEM), Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul 96001‑970, Brazil 2 Laboratório de Entomologia da Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa Clima Temperado), Pelotas, RS, Brazil 3 Departamento de Matemática e Estatística, Matemática, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul 96001‑970, Brazil