The effect of Hormogaster elisae (Hormogastridae) on the abundance of soil Collembola and Acari in laboratory cultures

This microcosm study investigated the effect of Hormogaster elisae on the abundance of soil Collembola and Acari in laboratory cultures. Two types of microcosm were prepared: type I consisted of plastic boxes with a 2-mm mesh cage containing two H. elisae, and type II consisted of plastic boxes without a cage. The respective controls contained no earthworms. All of them were kept at 18°C and 20% moisture for 21 days. After this period of time the microcosms were tested and microarthropods were extracted, identified and counted. In general, more microarthropods were recovered from the soils without earthworms. There were significant differences between the soils with respect to the abundance of Collembola (Isotomidae and Sminthuridae), and Acari (Gamasida and Oribatida). The results suggest that, under the experimental conditions employed, H. elisae reduces the abundance of these groups of microarthropods. This may be due to several reasons. A change in environmental heterogeneity produced by H. elisae is suggested. A possible interspecific relationship between these two groups due to competition or depredation is also discussed.