Observations on the behaviour and life history of <i>Schizotetranychus tenuinidus</i> (Acari: Tetranychidae) inhabiting bamboo leaves in Fujian, China

Abstract

Schizotetranychus tenuinidus females construct narrow nests mainly near the petiole and the main vein on leaves of moso bamboo (Phyllostaychs pubescens) and these nests are more often found on old than new leaves. The nests, sometimes as many as ten per leaf, are open at both ends and mobile stages frequently move out to feed and defecate. Each female lays about 20 eggs neatly in two rows in the nest and males guard the eggs until they hatch. Development from the egg to adult took about two weeks at 28-30°C and about three weeks at 24-26°C. The male deutonymph was not observed in S. tenuinidus. Adult females started to lay eggs after three days and the oviposition rate fluctuated around one egg per day during most of the oviposition period, which lasted for 13-33 days. The post-oviposition period was very short (averaging 1.5 days) and highly variable among individuals. Total fecundity was 21.8±8.1 (12-37) eggs per female. Adult females lived for 24.8±6.0 (17-33) days. months, when their principal hosts are largely inactive. No clear preference for any other season was observed. The geographical distribution of A. argentinae matches that of its chief host, C. chilensis. This host is increasingly at risk of extinction in its southern (Argentinean) range, which may also endanger A.argentinae in this region.