Astigmatid Mites Research Articles

Provision of astigmatid mites as supplementary food increases the density of the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii in greenhouse crops, but does not support the omnivorous pest, western flower thrips

Astigmatid mites can be used as prey for mass rearing of phytoseiid predators, but also as a supplemental food source to support predator populations in crops. Here we evaluated the potential of six species of astigmatid mites (living or frozen) as alternative food for the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot in greenhouse crops. All prey mites tested were suitable for predator oviposition. In general, oviposition was greater when prey mites were reared on dog food with yeast than when they were reared on wheat bran with yeast. Amongst prey items provided as frozen diet, larvae of Thyreophagus entomophagus (Laboulbene), Acarus siro L. and Lepidoglyphus destructor (Schrank) that had been reared on dog food with yeast, resulted in the highest oviposition rates of A. swirskii. T. entomophagus larvae as frozen diet resulted in the shortest preimaginal developmental time of A. swirskii. On chrysanthemum plants, we found that the greatest increase in predator density occurred when living mites of T. entomophagous were used as a food source. This increase was greater than when predators were fed cattail pollen, a commonly used supplemental food. Effects on predators of providing living A. siro and L. destructor, or frozen larvae of T. entomophagous as food, were comparable with provision of pollen. Use of supplemental food in crops can be a risk if it is also consumed by omnivorous pests such as western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande. However, we showed that both frozen and living mites of T. entomophagous were unsuitable for thrips oviposition. Hence, we believe that provision of prey mite species increases A. swirskii density, supporting biological control of thrips and other pests in greenhouse crops.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Scatoglyphus polytrematus (Acari: Acaridae)

We assembled and annotated the complete mitochondrial genome of Scatoglyphus polytrematus. It is the first complete mitochondrial genome sequence from the genus Scatoglyphus. The mitogenome was 13,966 bp in length and contains 37 genes (including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA), and two ribosomal RNA (rRNA)), and one largest non-coding region. The gene arrangement of S. polytrematus is consistent with the pattern of possible common ancestor of astigmatid mites. In the present study, phylogenetic analysis shows that genus Scatoglyphus was clustered into one branch with other Acaridae species.

<p><strong>The complete mitochondrial genome of the storage mite pest <em>Tyrophagus fanetzhangorum</em> (Acari: Acaridae)</strong></p>

Mitochondrial (mt) genomes of astigmatid mites typically contain 37 genes for 13 proteins, two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes and 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes. However, two Tyrophagus mites (Tyrophagus putrescentiae and T. longior) were reported as having lost three tRNAs in their mt genomes. In this study, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of Tyrophagus fanetzhangorum (14,257 bp) and found typical set of mt tRNA genes (22 tRNAs). The gene arrangement of T. fanetzhangorum is consistent with the pattern of possible common ancestor of astigmatid mites. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted using Maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods. Phylogenetic analysis shows that T. fanetzhangorum is more closely related to T. putrescentiae than to T. longior within the genus Tyrophagus.

Fatty acid metabolism in an oribatid mite: de novo biosynthesis and the effect of starvation.

The fatty acid (FA) composition of lipids in animals is influenced by factors such as species, life stage, availability and type of food, as well as the ability to synthesize certain FAs de novo. We investigated the effect of starvation on the neutral lipid (NLFA) and phospholipid (PLFA) fatty acid patterns of the oribatid mite Archegozetes longisetosus Aoki. Furthermore, we performed stable-isotope labeled precursors feeding experiments under axenic conditions to delineate de novo FA synthesis by profiling 13C and deuterium incorporation via single-ion monitoring. Starvation of mites resulted in a decline in the total amount of NLFAs and significantly changed the fatty acid patterns, indicating that NLFAs were metabolized selectively. Biochemical tracer experiments confirmed that oribatid mites, like other animals, can produce stearic (18:0) and oleic acid (18:1ω9) de novo. Mass spectrometric data also revealed that they appear to synthesize linoleic acid [18:2ω6,9 = (9Z,12Z)-octadeca-9,12-dienoic acid]-an ability restricted only to a few arthropod taxa, including astigmatid mites. The physiological and biosynthesis processes revealed here are crucial to understand the potential biomarker function of fatty acids-especially 18:2ω6,9-in oribatid mites and their applicability in soil animal food web studies.

Biological Studies on some Aspects of the Astigmatid Mite, Caloglyphus berlesei (Michael) fed on Different Diets and Different Temperatures Degrees

Biology of astigmatid mite, Caloglyphus berlesi (Michael) fed on stored food diets was studied at 20 and 30oC., and cleared slightly differences for influence different food kinds on egg incubation period. Concerning life cycle at 20oC, male lasted 14.64, 17.18 and 18.43 days when fed on wheat flour, maize flour and wheat bran, respectively. This period averaged 16.5, 21.2 and 24.0 days, for females, respectively at 30oC., male life cycle lived longer on wheat bran 17.92 days but took 13.14 and 16.47 days on wheat and maize flour, respectively, and female lasted 14.6, 18.8 and 22.0 days when reared on wheat, maize flour and wheat bran respectively. Male adulthood at 20oC durated 11.7, 17.6 and 1.6 days, but female averaged 14.5, 19.5 and 26.4 days, on wheat, maize flour and wheat bran, respectively. Male and female longevity took 10.68, 16.27 and 18.34 & 16.7, 18.42 and 24.36 days when fed on same foods, respectively at 30oC. Diets affected on deposited eggs number at 20oC. Therefore, feeding on wheat flour increased number (233.0 eggs), as, wheat bran decreased (165.5 eggs) at 20oC., at 30oC, eggs deposited was 259.3, 221.2 and 175.4, when females fed on wheat flour, maize flour and wheat bran, respectively.Wheat bran recorded highest protein content, followed by wheat and maize flour. Carbohydrates recorded highest for wheat, maize flour and wheat bran. Wheat flour was most suitable for rearing where highest number of deposited eggs recorded on wheat flour (233.0 at 20oC) and (259.3 at 30oC),

Biosynthesis of the widely distributed hydrocarbon (Z,Z)-6,9-heptadecadiene in astigmatid mites.

Using a crude enzyme solution prepared from astigmatid mites, the conversion reaction to (Z,Z)-6,9-heptadecadiene (6,9-C17) using linoleyl aldehyde (LAld) as a substrate was successful. The mass spectrum of the reaction product using 13C-labeled LAld as a substrate could be assigned as 13C-labeled 6,9-C17. Unlike the findings in other species, the decarbonylase derived from mites did not require a coenzyme.

Feeding lifestyles of the Phytoseiidae revisited: searching for a factitious rearing host for Neoseiulus fallacis (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Several mite species from the Phytoseiidae (Acari) have been successfully developed as products for augmentative biological control. Rearing of mites using factitious prey in grain-based systems can increase the efficiency of production of phytoseiids. This has been done successfully for several species but usually for Type III (generalist predator) phytoseiids. Neoseiulus fallacis (Garman) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is a Type II phytoseiid (prefers spider mites) that is currently reared in British Columbia (Canada) on Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) in a plant-based system. Here, we present feeding behaviour and predation data for N. fallacis on T. urticae and three Astigmatid (Acari) mites: Lepidoglyphus destructor (Schrank) (Acari: Glycyphagidae), Aleuroglyphus ovatus (Tropeau) (Acari: Acaridae) and Thyreophagus entomophagus (Laboulbene) (Acari: Acaridae). Our objective is to identify a candidate factitious host for mass rearing of N. fallacis. Although N. fallacis grabbed prey mites of all four species, successful feeding attempts were more frequent for the native host, T. urticae, than for the three Astigmatid species. N. fallacis rejected A. ovatus and T. entomophagus as hosts more often than T. urticae. In predation trials, N. fallacis fed at the highest rate on T. urticae, at an intermediate rate on L. destructor, and at the lowest rates on A. ovatus and T. entomophagus. For the three mites tested, L. destructor is the most promising species for further development as a factitious host for N. fallacis.

Phylogenetic Analysis of Astigmatid Mites Sarcoptes scabiei and Dermatophagoides farinae using ITS-2 as a Genetic Marker


 
 
 Objective: The coding of astigmatid mites based on their morphological and developmental characteristics often leads to uncertainty in the results. The ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS-2) region, being highly conserved in eukaryotes is commonly employed as a barcode for identification of mite species. The present study was an attempt to characterize the gene sequences of astigmatid mites i.e. Sarcoptes scabiei (S. scabiei), Dermatophagoides farinae (D. farinae) using ITS-2 as a genetic marker. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Department of Dermatology, Military Hospital (MH), Rawalpindi from September 2012 to October 2013. Materials and Methods: In order to characterize relationship of astigmatid mites, the ITS-2 marker was successfully amplified and sequenced. The resulting ITS-2 gene sequences were aligned using Clustal W. MEGA 7 was used to construct phylogenetic tree of the aligned sequence. Results: The phylogenetic tree showed an overall genetic distance of 0.53 indicating close genetic relationship among astigmatid mite species. Pairwise distance was calculated for the ITS-2 gene and low genetic diversity values were observed within S. scabiei and D. farinae that range from 0.003-0.008 and 0.006-0.038 respectively. Conclusion: The study supports the view that the ITS-2 region can be used to identify morphologically difficult astigmatid mites but is not useful in characterization of different species based on the geographical distribution. This study has important implication in our understanding of the epidemiology of S. scabiei and D. farinae and development of control strategies in human transmission.
 
 

The potential of highly nutritious frozen stages of Tyrophagus putrescentiae as a supplemental food source for the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii

ABSTRACTAstigmatid mites have potential as supplementary prey items to support generalist predator populations in crops. However, applying living prey mites has some disadvantages; if not predated they have the potential to cause crop damage and allergies. In this study, we evaluated various diets based on the astigmatid mite Tyrophagous putrescentiae (Schrank) as a supplemental food source for the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii Ahias-Henriot. Eggs and larvae of T. putrescentiae were reared on a diet of dog food (rich in proteins and fat) or bran (rich in carbohydrate); they were offered either frozen or alive, and either with or without cattail pollen (Typha angustifolia L.). Oviposition rate of A. swirskii fed with frozen mite larvae reared on dog food was similar to the rate observed when they were fed with cattail pollen or living prey mites, but developmental time of A. swirskii was longer on this frozen diet than on a diet of living prey mites or pollen. Both living and frozen prey mites were, in contrast with cattail pollen, not suitable for oviposition by western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande. In a greenhouse study, the use of frozen prey mite stages as supplemental food on chrysanthemum plants allowed populations of A. swirskii to establish, but not increase; in contrast, provision of living prey mites and pollen increased A. swirskii populations on plants. Hence, our study shows that living prey mites, but not frozen prey mites, had the greatest potential as a supplemental food source for A. swirskii.

Relationships between phoretic mites and their carrier, the banana pseudostem weevil Odoiporus longicollis Oliver (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

ABSTRACTPhoresy is a type of commensalism exploited by many species of mites as a means of transportation. The present study reports the phoretic association of astigmatid and mesostigmatid mites with adults of the banana pseudostem weevil, Odoiporus longicollis Oliver, a major pest of banana. Weevil specimens were collected from eight localities in Kerala, South India, between June 2017 to January 2018. 91.8% of beetles carried mites: phoretic deutonymphs (hypopi) of an unknown species of Histiostoma (Astigmata: Histiostomatidae) and adults of Macrocheles muscaedomesticae (Scopoli) (Mesostigmata: Macrochelidae). When their hosts died, Histiostoma sp. often fed upon the cadavers of their hosts, a relationship referred here as facultative necromeny. M. muscaedomesticae showed preference to the ventral surface of the host weevil while Histiostoma sp. preferred the sternal groove and subelytral surface.

Multiple resistance to macrocyclic lactones in the sheep scab mite Psoroptes ovis

The astigmatid mite Psoroptes ovis (Acari: Proroptidae) causes the highly contagious and debilitating ovine disease, sheep scab. This ectoparasitic infection has a high economic and animal welfare impact on British sheep farming. Following recent work demonstrating resistance of Psoroptes mites to moxidectin, a widely used macrocyclic lactone (ML) treatment for scab, the current study compared the toxicity of three of the commonly administered macrocylic lactone therapeutic treatments (moxidectin, ivermectin and doramectin) to P. ovis from outbreak populations that had appeared unresponsive to treatment. These outbreak populations were from Wales and south west England. The data presented demonstrate that there is resistance to all three available ML compounds in populations of Psoroptes mites. However, considerable variation in response suggested that resistance alone was not responsible for the reported lack of efficacy in all of the submitted cases; lack of response in others may be associated with inappropriate treatment application or management. These data highlight the importance of the appropriate use of these compounds to manage national scab incidence at levels that are consistent with acceptable animal welfare standards, while attempting to reduce the development and spread of resistance.

Mitochondrial genome reorganization provides insights into the relationship between oribatid mites and astigmatid mites (Acari: Sarcoptiformes: Oribatida)

AbstractOribatida s.l. represents one of the most species-rich mite lineages, including two recognized groups: oribatid mites (Oribatida s.s., non-astigmatan oribatids) and astigmatid mites (Astigmata). However, the relationship between these two groups has been debated. Here, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of one oribatid mite and one astigmatid mite, retrieved complete mt genomes of three oribatid mites, and compared them with two other oribatid mites and 12 astigmatid mites sequenced previously. We find that gene orders in the mt genomes of both oribatid mites and astigmatid mites are rearranged relative to the hypothetical ancestral arrangement of the arthropods. Based on the shared derived gene clusters in each mt genome group, rearranged mt genomes are roughly divided into two groups corresponding to each mite group (oribatid mites or astigmatid mites). Phylogenetic results show that Astigmata nested in Oribatida. The monophyly of Astigmata is recovered, while paraphyly of Oribatida s.s. is observed. Our results show that rearranged gene orders in the mt genomes characterize various lineages of oribatid mites and astigmatid mites, and have potential phylogenetic information for resolving the high-level (cohort or supercohort) phylogeny of Oribatida.

<p class="Body">Selective biorational treatments for managing the storage mites, Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) and Aleuroglyphus ovatus (Troupeau) under laboratory conditions

Mites have lately emerged as economically important pests of stored products. Recently, addition of natural origin compounds individually or as a combination with predators have provided a considerable value for controlling these pests. In this study, the efficacy of the bacterium-derived pesticides, spinosad and spinetoram, and the combination of each of them with the predator Cheyletus malaccensis Oudemans was evaluated against two storage mite pests, Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) and Aleuroglyphus ovatus (Troupeau) under optimal abiotic conditions for pest development. After 21d, the terminal density was estimated for both astigmatid mite species exposed to diet (experiment I) treated with either spinosad or spinetoram (concentrations range of 0.01-2 ppm). Estimation was also done with diet (experiment II) treated with either spinosad or spinetoram (0.5 ppm) and/or the predator at initial predator/prey ratio (0.02). The density of predator was also determined after 21 days. Application of spinosyns significantly reduced population of T. putrescentiae and A. ovatus. The reduction potential increased with increasing concentration. Complete control of T. putrescentiae and A. ovatus was achieved by the application of spinosad at 1 and 2 ppm, respectively. As measured by rC50 and rC90 (concentration for 50% and 90% suppress of population in comparison to control), spinosad was more toxic to T. putrescentiae and A. ovatus than spinetoram. Furthermore, T. putrescentiae was more susceptible to spinosad than A. ovatus. Conversely, it was less susceptible to spinetoram than A. ovatus. The populations of both mite species were successfully suppressed by the sole application of C. malaccensis. Although the density of predatory mites was not affected by the presence of 0.5 ppm spinosad, it was almost eradicated by spinetoram at 0.5 ppm. A combination of spinosad at 0.5 ppm with two individuals of C. malaccensis mites (ratio 0.02) outperformed spinosad used alone at the same former concentration in reduction efficiency of the pest populations by 12% for T. putrescentiae and 25% for A. ovatus within 21 days.

Risk of exposure of a selected rural population in South Poland to allergenic mites. Part\xa0II: acarofauna of farm buildings

Exposure to mite allergens, especially from storage and dust mites, has been recognized as a risk factor for sensitization and allergy symptoms that could develop into asthma. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of mites in debris and litter from selected farm buildings of the Małopolskie province, South Poland, with particular reference to allergenic and/or parasitic species as a potential risk factor of diseases among farmers. Sixty samples of various materials (organic dust, litter, debris and residues) from farm buildings (cowsheds, barns, chaff-cutter buildings, pigsties and poultry houses) were subjected to acarological examination. The samples were collected in Lachowice and Kurów (Suski district, Małopolskie). A total of 16,719 mites were isolated including specimens from the cohort Astigmatina (27 species) which comprised species considered as allergenic (e.g., Acarus siro complex, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, Lepidoglyphus destructor, Glycyphagus domesticus, Chortoglyphus arcuatus and Gymnoglyphus longior). Species of the families Acaridae (A. siro, A. farris and A. immobilis), Glycyphagidae (G. domesticus, L. destructor and L. michaeli) and Chortoglyphidae (C. arcuatus) have been found as numerically dominant among astigmatid mites. The majority of mites were found in cowsheds (approx. 32%) and in pigsties (25.9%). The remaining mites were found in barns (19.6%), chaff-cutter buildings (13.9%) and poultry houses (8.8%). The results suggest that the allergenic mites may constitute an occupational hazard for agricultural workers in all farming environments examined.

Tест-система визначення вмісту мангану у ґрунтах долини ріки Cамари дніпровської

Наведено характеристику фізико-хімічного тест-методу, який дає можливістьпросто та недорого виконати якісний, напівкількісний та кількісний аналіз ґрунтівна вміст мангану.

Colombian population of the mite Gaeolaelaps aculeifer as a predator of the thrips Frankliniella occidentalis and the possible use of an astigmatid mite as its factitious prey

Gaeolaelaps aculeifer (Canestrini) is a well-known generalist predator currently commercialized to control several edaphic organisms, including Diptera larvae and thrips pre-pupae and pupae. The recent detection of this species in the Bogotá plateau of Colombia raised the interest to investigate details about the biology of this new population and evaluate its potential as a biological control agent for use in that country against Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (Thripidae), the western flower thrips. The objective of this study was to evaluate experimentally the biological characteristics of the Colombian population of G. aculeifer and its predation capacity on F. occidentalis, as well as the possibility to use a factitious prey for its mass production or as complementary food in predator field releases. The study was conducted with three diets: F. occidentalis (T), Aleuroglyphus ovatus (A), and A. ovatus + F. occidentalis (TA), in a randomized design experiment using G. aculeifer females. Predation rate was about 2.6 pre-pupae/pupae of F. occidentalis/female/day when only thrips was available as prey, reducing to 2.0 when thrips was combined with A. ovatus. Oviposition was the same when fed each of those prey and their combination (2.5–2.9 eggs/female/day). Some differences between diets were observed for duration of some periods of the life cycle, but no differences were observed for life table parameters. The greatest differences observed between this population and what has been reported for other populations of the same predator (evaluated when feeding other prey) refer to duration of deutonymphal period and Ro (respectively longer and higher in the former). It is concluded that the Colombian population is able to feed, develop, and reproduce on pre-pupae and pupae of F. occidentalis and that A. ovatus can be used for its small scale mass production and as a complementary diet in predator field releases.

Effect of Food Kinds on Developmental Stages and Fecundity of the Astigmatid Mites, Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) and Rhizoglyphus robini Claparede (Astigmata: Acaridae)

This investigation was conducted to study the different biological aspects of astigmatid mites, Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) and Rhizoglyphus robini Claparede (Astigmata:Acaridae) when fed on different food kinds i.e. pure white wheat flour, normal wheat flour, wheat germ, rice flour, maize flour and semolina at 25+2 oC and 75+5 % R.H.. The results indicated that there were obvious differences between (incubation period, life cycle, longevity and life span) of both T. putrescentiae and R. robini and the different introduced food. The longest life span periods of T. putrescentiae male and female were noticed when the individuals fed on wheat flour, as recorded 41.61 and 50.9 days, respectively. However, the longest life span periods of R. robini were observed on maize flour and recorded 49.2 and 41.2 days for male and female indivduals, respectively. The food type's suitability clearly affected the number of deposited eggs by the adult female of both T. putrescentiae and R. robini and revealed highly significance between the feeding on wheat flour for the first mite and maize flour for the second one (the most suitable feeding sources for mites) than any other feeding types. The highest number of T. putrescentiae eggs was 40.2 eggs on wheat flour and the lowest number was recorded on wheat germ (27.8 eggs).However, the highest deposited number of R. robini eggs was noticed when adult female fed on maize flour (140.2 eggs), but the lowest number of laid eggs was found when the indivduals reared on wheat germ (70.4 eggs).

Maternal care, larviparous and oviparous reproduction of Hypoaspis larvicolus (Acari: Laelapidae) feeding on astigmatid mites.

Hypoaspis larvicolus (Acari: Laelapidae) (first report from Turkey) occurred together with Sancassania polyphyllae (Acari: Acaridae) on the larvae of the scarab beetle, Polyphylla fullo (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), that were feeding on the roots of strawberry in Aydin, Turkey. Laboratory studies were conducted to (1) observe whether H. larvicolus feeds and completes its life cycle on the various stages of S. polyphyllae or other astigmatid mites, such as Acarus siro, Carpoglyphus lactis and Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Acaridae), and to determine its population growth when feeding on these prey, and (2) to determine development periods, longevity and fecundity of H. larvicolus feeding on C. lactis. Hypoaspis larvicolus females did not feed on S. polyphyllae, but fed, developed and reproduced when A. siro, C. lactis or T. putrescentiae were provided as prey. Hypoaspis larvicolus is larviparous as well as oviparous. The female lays eggs or gives birth to larvae. If a female gives birth to a larva, it is attached under the female's venter for 1-2days, a phenomenon recorded for the first time in Hypoaspis; in fact, for the first time in mites. The results of the population growth experiments revealed that H. larvicolus feeding on C. lactis produced the highest number of eggs, juveniles and adults. The developmental periods of H. larvicolus feeding on C. lactis at life-cycle path I (larva to adult) and II (egg to adult) were 12.2 ± 0.3 and 15.6 ± 0.6days (females) and 19.5 ± 0.2 and 20.9 ± 0.4days (males), respectively. Longevity of females versus males of H. larvicolus was 120.6 ± 7.2 versus 91.6 ± 13.1days (life cycle I) and 110.0 ± 27.7 versus 118.3 ± 10.9days (life cycle II), respectively.

Feather mites (Acari: Astigmata) of captive Psittaciformes in Brazil

ABSTRACT Feather samples were obtained from the following Psittaciformes birds: Amazona amazonica, Amazona aestiva, Aratinga jandaya, Brotogeris spp., Ara ararauna and Ara chloropterus (total of 37 individuals). These birds were housed at the Wild Animal Screening Center of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil. Four feathers were taken from the following regions: head, back, wings, belly/breast, thighs, and tail/covert. Mites were found on 17 birds (45.94%). Astigmatid mites belonging to the genera Fainalges (Xolalgidae), Chiasmalges (Psoroptoididae) and Tanyaralichus (Pterolichidae) were identified. The highest dominance coefficient was for the mite Fainalges sp. (DC= 96.29). Chiasmalges sp. was obtained only from Ara chloropterus, and Tanyaralichus was found in A. aestiva. The genus Fainalges was obtained from all the species of Psittaciformes studied, except for A. ararauna. In evaluating mite density according to body region, statistical differences were found between the back and wing regions (P= 0.041), back and thighs (P= 0.02), wings and tail (P= 0.002), belly and tail (P= 0.031) and thighs and tail (P= 0.001). The morphological variations observed in Fainalges spp. suggested the existence of three species that probably have not been described yet. This was the first record of the genus Tanyaralichus in Brazil.

Biology of Lasioseius aegypticus Afifi (Mesostigmata: Ascidae) Fed on the Two Astigmatid Mites, Rhizoglyphus echinopus, Acarus siro and the Fungus Aspergillus niger at Two Temperature Degrees

The developmental time and fecundity of Lasioseius aegypticus were investigated at 25 and 35°C and 75% R.H. when fed on the astigmatid mites, (Rhizoglyphus echinopus and Acarus siro) and the fungus Aspergillus niger. The incubation period, life cycle, adult longevity and life span and female fecundity of L. aegypticus significantly differed according to the different conditions (diets and temperatures). The longest incubation period was noticed when the females of L. aegypticus fed on R. echinopus at 25oC (2.2 days); while the shortest period was for male on R. echinopus at 35 oC (1.57 days). Life cycle was longer when females reared on R. echinopus at 25 oC, as durated 8.5 days; while the shortest period was for males (62 days) on A. siro at 35oC. The mean longevity of L. aegypticus female fed on R. ehinopus at 25°C lasted the longest period (17.4 days); while the shortest was 8.18 days on A. niger at 35°C.The female fecundity was affected by diet and temperature, as it was high when mites fed on R. echinopus at 35 and 25°C (24.5 and 22.2 eggs, respectively) and (24.5 & 20.1 eggs on A. siro) and (20.5 & 17.6 eggs) on A. niger, respectively.