Typhlodromips swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae): A Predator of Eriophyid and Tetranychid Mango Mites in Egypt

Abstract

The predacious mite Typhlodromips swirskii (Athias-Henriot) successfully developed to the adult stage when fed on themotile stages of the mango bud mite Aceria mangiferae Sayed, the mango rust mite Metaculus mangiferae (Attiah), theleaf coating mite Cisaberoptus kenyae Keifer and nymphs of the mango red mite Oligonychus mangiferus (Rahman andSabra) in the laboratory at different temperatures and relative humidities. The increase of temperature degree anddecrease relative humidity from 25°C and 60% R.H. to 30°C & 55%R.H. and 35 °C & 50 %R.H. shorteneddevelopment and increased reproduction and prey consumption. Different eriophyid prey species promoted fasterdevelopment of the predator compared to feeding on the tetranychid nymphs. The rate of egg laying (2.62, 2.23, 2.35and 1.83 eggs/♀/day) was recorded at the highest temperatures and lowest R.H., while the minimum reproduction (1.92,1.72, 1.62 and 1.20 eggs/♀/day) was noted at the lowest temperature and highest R.H. when fed on the fouraforementioned prey species, respectively. Life table parameters indicated that feeding T. swirskii on A. mangiferae ledto the highest reproduction rate (rm = 0.216 and 0.157 females/female/day), while feeding on O. mangiferus gave thelowest reproduction rate (rm= 0.183 and 0.133) nymphs at 35°C and 50%R.H. and 25°C and 60% R.H., respectively.The adult predatory female consumed an average of 117.8 A. mangiferare, 114.18 C kenyae, 94.4 M. mangiferae motilestages and 14.58 O. mangiferus nymphs at 35°C and 50% R.H./day, while it devoured 102.8, 96.59, 90.44 and 12.35individuals, respectively at 25°C and 60% R.H. The three eriophyid mango mites, particularly A. mangiferae, proved tobe suitable prey for T. swirskii, as a facultative predator, compared to the tetranychid mango mite.