Persian Journal of Acarology

Abstract Date palm pollen has received considerable attention among various pollen types due to its high nutritional value, availability, and positive effects on predator performance. However, the nutritional quality of date palm pollen can vary significantly depending on its geographical origin. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of geographical variation in date palm pollen quality on the biological performance of Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot. Pollen samples were collected from the same date palm cultivar (Mazafati) at four locations in southern Iran: Bam and Jiroft (Kerman Province) and Rodan and Hajiabad (Hormozgan Province). The shortest pre-adult development was observed on Rodan pollen (6.38 days), and the longest times were observed on pollen from Jiroft (7.71 days) and Bam (7.69 days). Fecundity was significantly higher in individuals fed Rodan pollen (40.62 eggs/female) than those fed other pollens. The highest pre-adult mortality occurred in individuals reared on Bam pollen, followed by Jiroft pollen. The highest intrinsic (r) and finite (λ) rates of increase were obtained on Rodan pollen (0.181 and 1.199 day-1, respectively), while the lowest values were recorded on Bam pollen (0.117 and 1.124 day-1, respectively). Similarly, Rodan pollen exhibited the highest net (R0) and gross (GRR) reproductive rates, while the lowest values were observed on Bam and Jiroft pollens. Rodan pollen had the shortest mean generation time (T) (16.45 days). Rodan pollen also had the highest protein content (43.18%), showing a significant difference compared to the other pollens. Our findings demonstrate that geographical origins of the date palm can directly affect its pollen quality and indirectly affect the biological performance of the predatory mite.

Abstract The European red mite, Panonychus ulmi (Acari: Tetranychidae) is one of the main pests of apple trees worldwide. The main purpose of this research was to study the repellent and lethal effect of Heracleum persicum Desf. and Trachyspermum ammi L. essential oils (EOS) on the European red mite. The EOS of H. persicum and T. ammi were extracted using a Clevenger device and by water distillation method. The mortality of the mites was evaluated after 24 hours and the lethality of each EO was calculated in contact and fumigant toxicity in an incubator at 26 ± 2 °C temperature, 16:8 h L:D, and 50 ± 5% RH. It was found that the LC50 values of EOS of H. persicum and T. ammi were 343.91 and 311.74 µL l-1 for contact toxicity, and 2.54 and 2.85 µL l-1 air for fumigant toxicity, respectively. With increasing the concentration of EOS, the death rate of mites was increased. Three different concentrations of the EOS from H. persicum and T. ammi were tested for their repellent effects on the European red mite. Results of the present study revealed, that the repellency rate increased with increasing concentration, meanwhile, the T. ammi EO had the highest repellency among the concentrations.