Life history traits and population parameters of the predatory mite Euseius scutalis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) fed on Tetranychus turkestani (Acari: Tetranychidae) and pollen from three different plants

Abstract

Development, reproduction, and demographic parameters of the predatory mite Euseius scutalis (Athias-Henriot) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) were determined in the laboratory at 25±1 °C, with a 16L:8D photoperiod and 60 ±5% RH, to evaluate its response to four different diets: Tetranychus turkestani Ugarov and Nikolskii (Acari: Tetranychidae), caster bean pollen, date palm pollen, and hopbush pollen. Male and female mites raised on T. turkestani had a shorter mean pre-adult duration than those grown on date palm, castor, and hopbush pollen. Pre-adult mortality was found to be greater in either the larval stage or protonymphal stage than other stages. The highest and lowest pre-adult mortality rates were recorded on castor bean pollen (31.87%) and T. turkestani (2.94%), respectively. The total pre-oviposition periods (TPOP) on hopbush and castor bean pollen were significantly longer than those on T. turkestani and date palm pollen. The highest egg production and oviposition period were determined when T. turkestani were provided as diet. Overall, the individuals lived considerably longer when provided with T. turkestani and hopbush pollen than the two other diets. The gross reproductive rate (GRR) and net reproductive rate (R<sub>0</sub>) on T. turkestani were greater than the values attained on other diets. The highest intrinsic (r) and finite rates of increase (λ) were found to be 0.2537 and 1.2888 on T. turkestani, respectively. However, R<sub>0</sub>, GRR, r, and λ were almost similar between all pollen diets tested. In general, all diets tested in this study were adequate for development and oviposition in E. scutalis, but T. turkestani was the most favorable diet.