Apostolos Pekas

Dr. Apostolos Pekas


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

24Years (2003-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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31 January 2017 in Scientific Reports
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Journal Article
Open access
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APApostolos Pekas
Apostolos Pekas
EPEric Palevsky
Eric Palevsky
JSJason C. Sumner
Jason C. Sumner
MPM. Alejandra Perotti
M. Alejandra Perotti
MNMarta Nesvorna
Marta Nesvorna
JHJan Hubert
Jan Hubert
Neoseiulus cucumeris is a predatory mite used for biological control of arthropod pests. Mass-reared predators are fed with factitious prey mites such as Tyrophagus putrescentiae. Although some information on certain endosymbionts of N. cucumeris and T. putrescentiae exists, it is unclear whether both species share bacterial communities. The bacterial communities in populations of predator and prey mites, as well as the occurence of potential acaropathogenic bacteria were analyzed. The comparisons were based on the following groups: (i) N. cucumeris mass-production; (ii) N. cucumeris laboratory population with disease symptoms; (iii) T. putrescentiae pure populations and; (iv) T. putrescentiae from rearing units of N. cucumeris. Only 15% of OTUs were present in all samples from predatory and prey mite populations (core OTUs): the intracellular symbionts Wolbachia, Cardinium, plus other Blattabacterium-like, Solitalea-like, and Bartonella-like symbionts. Environmental bacteria were more abundant in predatory mites, while symbiotic bacteria prevailed in prey mites. Relative numbers of certain bacterial taxa were significantly different between the microbiota of prey mites reared with and without N. cucumeris. No significant differences were found in the bacterial communities of healthy N. cucumeris compared to N. cucumeris showing disease symptoms. We did not identify any confirmed acaropathogenic bacteria among microbiota.

1 April 2016 in Current Opinion in Insect Science
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
ATAlejandro Tena
Alejandro Tena
FWFelix L Wäckers
Felix L Wäckers
GHGeorge E Heimpel
George E Heimpel
Alberto UrbanejaAlberto Urbaneja
Alberto Urbaneja
APApostolos Pekas
Apostolos Pekas

4 April 2015 in Journal of Applied Ecology
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Journal Article
Closed access
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ATAlejandro Tena
Alejandro Tena
APApostolos Pekas
Apostolos Pekas
DCDalmert Cano
Dalmert Cano
FWFelix Leopold Wackers
Felix Leopold Wackers
Alberto UrbanejaAlberto Urbaneja
Alberto Urbaneja

20 March 2013 in Ecological Entomology
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Journal Article
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ATAlejandro Tena
Alejandro Tena
APApostolos Pekas
Apostolos Pekas
FWFelix L. Wäckers
Felix L. Wäckers
Alberto UrbanejaAlberto Urbaneja
Alberto Urbaneja

18 November 2018 in Pest Management Science
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Journal Article
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FBFrançois‐Xavier Boulanger
François‐Xavier Boulanger
SJSarah Jandricic
Sarah Jandricic
KBKarel Bolckmans
Karel Bolckmans
FWFelix L. Wäckers
Felix L. Wäckers
APApostolos Pekas
Apostolos Pekas

1 August 2017 in Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
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Journal Article
Closed access
FWFelix L. Wäckers
Felix L. Wäckers
JAJesús Sánchez Alberola
Jesús Sánchez Alberola
FGFerran Garcia-Marí
Ferran Garcia-Marí
APApostolos Pekas
Apostolos Pekas