Development, survival, and reproduction of Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) feeding on fresh versus frozen eggs of Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Abstract

Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot is an important biocontrol agent for controlling spider mites (Tetranychus spp). Rearing P. persimilis is relatively expensive due to the need to raise spider mites (e.g. Tetranychus urticae Koch), as prey, on live plants. Frozen eggs of T. urticae can be easily stored and used as a potential feed for laboratory rearing of P. persimilis. This study investigated the performance of frozen T. urticae eggs compared with fresh eggs as food for rearing P. persimilis. Under laboratory conditions, the survival, immature development, consumption, and oviposition of P. persimilis given frozen or fresh T. urticae eggs were observed. The influence of the dietary experience of P. persimilis females (i.e. fed on frozen or fresh spider mite eggs) on offspring’s development and consumption was also examined. The survival and development of P. persimilis were not affected by the different diets. However, individuals fed on frozen T. urticae eggs had a reduced oviposition rate and an increased consumption compared with those given fresh eggs. The maternal dietary experience did not affect the development and consumption of P. persimilis. As the nutritional quality of T. urticae eggs is likely reduced during freezing, the frozen eggs of T. urticae may be inadequate compared with fresh eggs in rearing P. persimilis. Nevertheless, frozen eggs have the potential as supplementary food for P. persimilis. Future studies can investigate the performance of frozen T. urticae eggs on the lifespan and lifetime fecundity and in maintaining a population of P. persimilis in the field.

Diet restriction in parents shapes the lives of their offspring: a laboratory study using a predatory mite (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

“…Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae), a predatory mite, is an essential biocontrol agent in spider mite control (Fournier et al 1985). Phytoseiulus persimilis is well-suited for investigating transgenerational effects of diet restriction due to its short developmental time and observable phenotypic plasticity in various traits, including body size, developmental time, longevity, and reproductive behaviours (Amano & Chant 1977; Han et al 2022; Han et al 2023; Schausberger et al 2017; Walzer & Schausberger 2011, 2015a; Xu et al 2023).…”

Effects of visible light wavelength on development and demographic parameters of Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

“…Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot is an important biocontrol agent used for mite control, particularly of control of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Meijer et al 2023;Nachman & Zemek 2003). Phytoseiulus persimilis is widely distributed, has a short egg-to-egg cycle, high reproduction and is easy to rear, making it valuable for biocontrol in Integrated Pest Management programs (Vangansbeke et al 2013;Xu et al 2023). It has been utilized mainly for spider mite control in orchards and greenhouses (Opit et al 2004;Morales-Ramos & Guadalupe Rojas 2014).…”

“…Phytoseiulus persimilis is widely distributed, has a short egg-to-egg cycle, high reproduction and is easy to rear, making it valuable for biocontrol in Integrated Pest Management programs (Vangansbeke et al . 2013; Xu et al . 2023).…”