Effect of different bamboo ages on population parameters of Schizotetranychus bambusae Reck (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Abstract

The survival and fecundity of the spider mite, Schizotetranychus bambusae Reck, on the detached leaves of the moso bamboo, Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel, from 1–4yr-old bamboo plants, were evaluated in the laboratory. The age-specific and time-specific life tables of the experimental populations of S. bambusae were constructed. The relationship between the population dynamics of this mite and 1–4yr-old bamboo plants was analyzed. The results showed that the survival of immature stages was 92.00%, 88.46%, 70.81%, and 94.34% when fed on the leaves from 1, 2, 3, and 4yr-old bamboo leaves, respectively. The mean number of eggs laid per female which were reared on leaves from four kinds of bamboo leaves, were 41.4, 37.3, 14.7, and 42.8,respectively. The trend index of population (I), net reproductive rate (Ro), intrinsic rate of increase (rm) and finite rate of increase (λ) were 5.2073, 5.7719, 0.1117, 1.1182 on the 3yr-old bamboo leaves, respectively, and the population doubling time (DT) was the longest (6.2050d). However, when reared on the other three kinds of bamboo leaves (1, 2, and 4yr-old leaves), the values of the net reproductive rate (Ro) were 22.1223, 16.6168, and 18.2853, respectively. The results indicated that the 3yr-old bamboo was disadvantageous for the experimental population increase of S. bambusae.