Abstract
ABSTRACT Two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, is a ubiquitous and highly polyphagous plant pest with a worldwide distribution. Diapause is essential for its survival in the areas with unfavourable seasonal conditions. We investigated whether female mites overwintering close to the soil surface may be adapted to seasonal flooding. Among the tested mites diapausing on leaf surfaces, 76.3 ± 13.1% (mean ± SE) survived submergence in water for 10 days, 4.8 ± 3.0% – for 20–24 days, 3.0 ± 2.1% – for 30 days, and 8.7 ± 5.9% – for 42–46 days. Among the tested mites diapausing inside wheat straws, 33.3 ± 9.0% remained alive after being flooded for ten days, but none survived being submerged for 30 days. Seasonal floodwaters may be an important factor in spider mite dispersal, geographic isolation, and gene flow. Flooding may also be partially responsible for the formation of species assemblages along rivers.
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