Temperature-based life history and life table parameters of Texas citrus mite on orange (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Abstract

The effect of five different constant temperatures on life history and life table parameters of the Texas citrus mite Eutetranychus banksi (McGregor) on sweet orange ( Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) leaves was studied under controlled laboratory conditions. The intrinsic rates of natural increase were -0.0649, 0.1723, 0.1759, 0.1973, and -0.0711; net reproductive rates, 0.30, 8.25, 7.24, 9.21, and 0.44; mean generation times, 19.21, 12.79, 11.74, 11.52, and 11.64 days at 20, 25, 30, 32.5, and 35°C, respectively. In general, the durations of each immature instar as well as combined immature stages, declined with increasing temperature up to 32.5°C and then increased at 35°C. As regards the adult stages, the durations of preoviposition, oviposition, and postoviposition periods, as well as adult longevity, decreased with rising temperature in the range of 25-30°C. With the exception of the preoviposition period, temperature of 20°C had an opposite effect on the durations of the remaining adult phases.Mean total andmean daily fecundities generally but irregularly declined with ascending temperatures.Mean total developmental times declined curvilinearly with rising temperature; however, the rate of development had a positive curvilinear relationship with increasing temperatures. Threshold temperature of development (°C) and thermal constants (degree-days) for egg, larva, protonymph, deutonymph, combined immature stages, preoviposition, oviposition, postoviposition, and adult longevity were: 5.82, 127.66; 3.29, 14.08; 4.33, 41.91; 3.69, 53.28; 4.08, 279.02; 5.35, 34.39; 3.06, 86.78; 3.75, 28.14; and 2.89; 139.52, respectively. From the data it was calculated that there are 22-23 annual generations of the Texas citrus mite in Tamaulipas, Mexico. Temperatures in the range of 28 to 31°C constitute the optimal range for development of this mite species.