Suitability of the Pollen Grains, Ricinus communis and Helianthus annuus as Food for Six Species of Phytoseiid Mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Abstract

Laboratory studies were conducted on the acceptability of pollen grains of Ricinus communis (L.) and Helianthus annuus L. to Amblyseius zaheri Yousef and El-Borolossy, Euseius yousefi Zaher and El-Borolossy, Amblyseius lindquisti Schuster and Pritchard, Typhlodromus balanites El-Badry, Typhlodromus sennarensis El-Badry and Amblyseius cabonus (Schicha) as indicated by effect on development, survival, oviposition and life table parameters. A. zaheri and E. yousefi had a shorter developmental period on both pollen grains than A. lindquisti. Development was not completed in case of T. balanites, T. sennarensis and A. cabonus. A. zaheri and E. yousefi showed the highest oviposition rate when fed R. communis compared to H. annuus. A. lindquisti failed to lay any eggs when fed on both pollen grains. On both predator species, a diet of R. communis provided the shortest generation time (T) relatively, greatest female longevity and mean total fecundity (f) which resulted in the highest net reproductive rate (Ro) value (41.46 and 43.28 expected females per female), intrinsic rate of increase (rm = 0.279 and 0.258) and finite rate of increase (er m = 1.322 and 1.294 per day) for A. zaheri and E. yousefi respectively.