Abstract
Reproduction, sex ratio and life-table parameters of the predatory mites Neoseiulus womersleyi and Euseius ovalis feeding on the spider mites (Tetranychus urticae, T. kanzawai, Oligonychus mangiferus and Panonychus citri) as well as on maize and Chinese loofah pollen at 25°C were studied. Among all of the food sources tested, the fecundity of N. womersleyi was high (33.57 eggs/female) on T. urticae, but low on P. citri (17.63 eggs/female), whereas E. ovalis was high (35.86 eggs/female) on O. mangiferus and low (8.89 eggs/female) on T. kanzawai. Sex ratio differed among food sources and ranged from 0.67 to 0.78 for N. womersleyi and from 0.68 to 0.78 for E. ovalis. The highest net reproductive rate (R 0 = 24.86 offspring/individual) and intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm = 0.254/day) were found in N. womersleyi feeding on T. urticae and T. kanzawai, respectively; the lowest R 0 (9.88 offspring/individual) was recorded on O. mangiferus and the lowest rm (0.179/day) was on loofah pollen. When feeding on O. mangiferus, E. ovalis had a higher R 0 (26.46 offspring/individual) and rm (0.256/day) than those fed on other food sources. Since N. womersleyi feeding on T. urticae or T. kanzawai had showed the higher rates of fecundity, female sex ratio and intrinsic rate of natural increase, we concluded that T. urticae and T. kanzawai were suitable food sources for N. womersleyi, whereas O. mangiferus and T. urticae were suitable food sources for E. ovalis. Both predatory mites developed, oviposited normally and population increased in a high rate when feeding on the two kinds of pollen, suggesting that these pollens may be a useful food supplement for the two predators.
Published Version
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