Life table and predation rate of Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae) fed on Eotetranychus frosti (Tetranychidae) and Cenopalpus irani (Tenuipalpidae)

Abstract

The life history and predation rate of Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot feeding on Eotetranychus frosti (McGregor) (Tetranychidae) or Cenopalpus irani Dosse (Tenuipalpidae) were determined at 25±1°C, with 16:8 h L: D, at an average daily relative air humidity of 60±10% on apple leaves. A. swirskii successfully completed development, oviposition, and survival on both diets. Individuals of predator reared on E. frosti prey showed improved performance as compared to C. irani prey. The results indicated that its average duration of all immature stages on E. frosti and C. irani were 6.94 and 7.48 days, respectively. The adult female longevities were 39.81 and 32.41 days on the E. frosti and C. irani diets, respectively; also females laid a total of 34.69 and 25.96 eggs on the two different prey species, respectively. The intrinsic rates of increase (r) and net reproductive rate (R0) on E. frosti and C. irani were 0.179 and 0.140 day−1 and 18.50 and 11.68 female offspring, respectively. The transformation rate (Qp), stable predation rate (ψ), and finite predation rate (ω) of A. swirskii were higher on C. irani than when fed on E. frosti diet due to their higher predation rate. The transformation rate (Qp) of the predatory mite was 20.20 and 32.28 prey on E. frosti and C. irani, respectively. The net predation rate (C0) was not significantly different for A. swirskii on the two diets. The results of this study suggested that A. swirskii can successfully complete its life cycle on both preys and have excellent performance as biological control agent against both pest species.