Persian Journal of Acarology

Abstract Neoseiulus barkeri (Hughes) is a common predatory mite in the Middle East region. In the present study, the development and biological parameters of N. barkeri when preyed on Rhyncaphytoptus ficifoliae Keifer or Aceria ficus (Cotte) mite pests were investigated. The predatory mite successfully developed on R. ficifoliae and A. ficus. The pre-adult duration of N. barkeri individuals fed on A. ficus (9.24 days) was shorter than that of those reared on R. ficifoliae (10.35 days). Conversely, the egg production of N. barkeri females reared on R. ficifoliae (35.53 eggs/♀) was inferior compared to those fed on A. ficus (44.12 eggs/♀). Neoseiulus barkeri individuals reared on R. ficifoliae showed considerably lower values of intrinsic (r) and finite rates of increase (λ) (r = 0.141 day⁻¹, λ = 1.151 day⁻¹) compared to those preyed on A. ficus (r = 0.165 day⁻¹, λ = 1.179 day⁻¹). Our results suggest that N. barkeri could be considered as a potential biocontrol agent for controlling these pests.

Abstract The predatory mite Proprioseiopsis lindquisti completed its development and reproduced successfully on three eriophyid mites, Aculops lycopersici, Aceria mangiferae, and Aculus fockeui, under laboratory conditions. Feeding on A. mangiferae and A. fockeui resulted in short developmental and long oviposition periods and was a suitable food for predator oviposition as it resulted in high fecundity, gross and net reproductive rates. Feeding on A. lycopersici elongated the developmental period and was less favorable for the predator as it gave the lowest rate of oviposition and net reproductive rates. Higher intrinsic rates of increase, and finite rates of increase for P. lindquisti were recorded on A. mangiferae while A. lycopersici and A. fockeui produced lower values.

Abstract The quality of the important host plants affects the survival, development, and reproduction of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch. The biology and life table parameters of T. urticae, on four cultivars of common Regular and Sweet pea and Polesta & G6 bean, were examined under laboratory conditions of 27 ± 1 ℃, 60–80% R.H. and photoperiod 16L: 8D h. Both males and females of T. urticae successfully developed from egg to adult on different host plants. Results revealed that the survival rate varied from 53% on Regular pea to 99% on G6 bean cultivars. The developmental time from egg to adult was significantly influenced among the tested host plant cultivars and ranged from 9.75 days on G6 bean to 20.42 days on Regular pea (p = 0.00). Female longevity was significantly longer on Regular and Sweet pea than on Polesta and G6 bean. The highest fecundity per female was recorded on G6 bean, but the lowest was on Regular pea cultivars. Consequently, population growth parameters were also significantly influenced by different host plants. The net reproductive rate (R₀), the intrinsic rate of natural increase (r), and the finite rate of increase (λ) of T. urticae were significantly higher on G6 bean than the other three cultivars. Also, the longest mean generation time (T) and doubling time (DT) were noted on Regular pea, but the shortest value on G6 and Polesta bean cultivars. Obtained results based on the intrinsic rate of natural increase revealed that G6 and Polesta bean were more suitable than the two pea cultivars as hosts for T. urticae. Therefore, the lower population growth rate of the T. urticae could be the result of antibiotic resistance in the cultivars Regular and Sweet pea. 

Abstract Laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the influence of two pea cultivars, regular and sweet as substrates on biological aspects and life table analysis of two phytoseiid species, Cydnoseius negevi (Swirski & Amitai) and Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) fed on nymphs of Tetranychus urticae Koch under laboratory conditions of 27 ± 1 ℃, 70–80 % RH and 16L:8D h photoperiod. The development was faster and reproduction of N. californicus was higher compared with C. negevi. The predatory mite N. californicus showed the highest fecundity when reared on sweet pea cultivar, while C. negevi exhibited the lowest fecundity when reared on regular pea cultivar. Rearing C. negevi on the two pea cultivars led to the greatest female longevity than that of N. californicus. Feeding capacity of females during oviposition period was the highest for N. californicus on sweet pea, but it was the lowest for C. negevi on regular pea cultivar. Life table analysis showed that the shortest mean generation time (T) for N. californicus (13.01 days) compared with C. negevi (14.65 days) on sweet pea cultivar. Also, the intrinsic rate of increase (r_m) of N. californicus was 0.29 female/female/day, but the r_m value was 0.24 female/female/day for C. negevi on sweet pea substrate. Therefore, it can be concluded that the two predatory mites, C. negevi and N. californicus, are efficient biological control agents against T. urticae on the two pea cultivars.