Responses of Amblyseius ovalis (Evans) (Acarina: Phytoseiidae) to natural food resouces and two artificial diets

Abstract

Chain-ing, T. Shih, Chang. H.Y., Hsu, P.H. and Hwang, Y.F., 1993. Responses ofAmblyseius ovalis (Evans) (Acarina: Phytoseiidae) to natural food resources and two artificial diets. Exp. Appl. Acarol., 17: 503-519.Six phytophagous mites, maize pollen, and two artificial diets were fed to Amblyseius ovalis to evaluate their food suitability for the predator. The paraffim diet-chip of Hager and Tassan was adopted for artificial diet studies. The floating leaf method was the best among all tested methods, producing high survival, developmental, and reproductive rates of the predator. Offspring ofA. ovalis feeding on artificial diets did not complete their life cycles. A. ovalis feeding on E. orientalis, O. mangiferus, ad O. taiwanicus developed into adult form faster than those feeding on other tbod resources. Predators feeding on the natural food, except those feeding on T. kanzawai, had much higher immatural survival rates, lower escape rates, and shorter developmental durations than those feeding on the artificial dicts.All A. ovatis laid an average of two eggs per female per day after 2 days of prcoviposition, except for those feeding on 11 kanzawai which produced none. A. ovalis feeding on artificial diets showed a shorter oviposition period, lower daily and total reproductive rates, and shorter longevity. The complicated webbing life type of T. kanzawai inhibited the activities ofA. ovalis, indicating that the predators may require nutrients other than T. kanzawai eggs to molt into adults and to reproduce. The functions varying the phytoseiid-tetranychid relationship during the predator's approach to the microhabitat of the prey were postulated from the predator's structures and the prey's life type. Most predator eggs were laid by 2-18 day-old females feeding on natural food resources.A, ovatis retained its high activity on the low webbing habitats of O. mangiferus and E. orientalis, and on maize pollen. The intrinsic rate of increase, mean generation time, and net reproductive rate ofA. ovatis on each of nine tested food resources were evaluated from its life tables. The predator showed the highest intrinsic rates of increase when feeding on the prey of E. orientalis, O. nutngiferus, and on maize pollen, and the lowest rates when feeding on the artificial diet even when the immatures had ted on the O. mangiferus and maize pollen. Consequently, the optimal food resources for A. ovalis appear to be O. mangiferus or O. orientatis with supplements of maize pollen. When fed on these food resources, the predators demonstrated the highest rates of survival, longevity, fecundity, and intrinsic increase.

Development, long-term survival, and the maintenance of fertility in Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) reared on an artificial diet

“…The majority of phytoseiid mite species that were shown to successfully develop on ADs in previous studies comprised Type III or IV generalists (McMurtry and Scriven 1966;Kennett and Hamai 1980;Itagaki and Koyama 1986;Ochieng' et al 1987;Shih et al 1993). Kennett and Hamai (1980) reported that no individuals of Galendromus occidentalis (Nesbitt) (a Type II phytoseiid mite) developed on an AD composed of yeast components, saccharides, and yolk.…”

“…Although phytoseiid mites (particularly the Type III and IV generalist species) frequently develop, many studies have detected low fecundities of adult females fed artificial diets (McMurtry and Scriven 1966;Kennett and Hamai 1980;Itagaki and Koyama 1986;Ochieng' et al 1987;Shih et al 1993). Because the primary goal of these previous studies was to exploit artificial diets for commercial propagation, experiments in this area have reached a standstill, and the potential for artificial diets to maintain phytoseiid mite populations has not yet been evaluated.…”

“…Previous studies have examined the development and oviposition of generalist phytoseiid mites (Types III and IV) on various artificial diets composed of yeast components, saccharides, and egg yolk (McMurtry and Scriven 1966;Kennett and Hamai 1980;Shih et al 1993). We investigated the development, survival and egg production of Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) on the artificial diet formulated by Kennett and Hamai (1980), with several modifications.…”

Species of the genus Euseius Wainstein (Acari: Phytoseiidae: Amblyseiinae) from Taiwan

“…In Taiwan, E. ovalis has been studied for future use as a biological control agent, especially regarding its response to different food resources and its predator-prey interactions (Shih et al, 1993;Shih & Wang, 1997). Recently, compared the development and predation rates of Neoseiulus womersleyi (Schicha) and E. ovalis.…”

Potencial de diferentes fontes de alimento para a produção massal de ácaros predadores fitoseídeos (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

“…Alguns inclusive tem preferência por esse tipo de alimento como é o caso do gênero Euseius e Iphiseius da família Phytoseiidae (McMurtry et al, 2013 Scriven, 1964;Rasmy, 1970;Krishnamoorthy, 1982;Rasmy et al, 1987;Pu et al, 1991;Noronha e Cobo, 1992;Momen, 1995;Reis e Alves, 1997;Vantornhout et al, 2004;Al-Shammery, 2011), Zea mays L. (McMurtry e Scriven, 1964;Kamburov, 1971;Pu et al, 1991;Shih et al, 1993;Afifi et al, 1998;), Typha orientalis Presl (James, 1993), dentre outros.…”