Life tables of the predatory mite Neoseiulus cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on two pest mites as prey, Aculops lycopersici and Tetranychus urticae

Abstract

Studies on the life history and life table parameters of Neoseiulus cucumeris Oudemans (Acari: Phytoseiidae) were carried out under laboratory conditions of 25 ± 1 °C and 65 ± 5% RH; 30 ± 1 °C and 60 ± 5% RH; 35 ± 1 °C and 55 ± 5% RH. As prey, immature stages of tetranychid spider mite T. urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) and the moving stages of the Tomato Russet Mite A. lycopersici (Massee) (Acari: Eriophyideae) were selected. The predatory phytoseiid mite, Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) was able to develop successfully from egg to adult stage through the entire life history on both preys. The higher of different temperatures and relative humidities shortened the development and increased reproduction and prey consumption and vice versa. The maximum reproduction (3.91, and 3.09 eggs/♀/day) was recorded at 35 °C and 65% RH, while the minimum (2.12, and 1.90 eggs/♀/day) was at 25 ± 1 °C and 55 ± 5% RH. when N. cucumeris fed on A. lycopersici and T. urticae, respectively. The reproductive rate on eriophyid was significantly higher than previously recorded on tetranychid. Life table parameters indicated that feeding of phytoseiid mite N. cucumeris on tomato russet mite A. lycopersici led to the highest reproduction rate (rm = 0.268, 0.232 and 0.211 females/female/day), while feeding on T.urticae gave the lowest reproduction rate (rm = 0.159, 0.143 and 0.131) at 35 °C and 55% RH, 30 °C and 60% RH and 25 °C and 65% RH, respectively. The population of N. cucumeris multiplied (36.81, 28.71 and 20.47) and (24.60, 19.58 and 14.62 times) in a generation time of (20.10, 23.20 and 25.14) and (22.35, 25.36 and 27.79 days) when a predator fed on A. lycopersici and T. urticae at the same temperature above mentioned, respectively. These results suggest that the two mites, particularly A. lycopersici, proved to be suitable prey for N.cucumeris, as a facultative predator.