Effect of temperature on biological parameters of Eutetranychus africanus(Tücker) (Acari: Tetranychidae) on white frangipani

Abo-Shnaf, Reham; Elhalawany, Ashraf

doi:10.22073/pja.v15i1.85761

Effect of temperature on biological parameters of Eutetranychus africanus(Tücker) (Acari: Tetranychidae) on white frangipani

Authors

Reham Abo-Shnaf ¹

Ashraf Elhalawany ²

¹ Vegetable and Aromatic Plant Mites Department, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, 12611 Dokii, Giza, Egypt

² Fruit Tree Mite Department, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, 12611 Dokii, Giza, Egypt

10.22073/pja.v15i1.85761

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of temperature on the development, survival, and reproduction of Eutetranychus africanus (Tücker) (Acari: Tetranychidae) reared on White frangipani (Plumeria alba L.: Apocynaceae) under laboratory conditions. Development, survivorship, and reproduction of this mite were studied on units made of detached leaves of P. alba, at three constant temperatures (20, 25, and 30 ± 2 °C), relative humidity (70 ± 5% RH), and photoperiod (16L: 8D). Mites completed their development and reproduced at all three tested temperatures. Developmental time, oviposition period, adult longevity, and life span decreased as temperature increased, although daily oviposition rate and fecundity increased. The results indicated that while E. africanus develops across a wide temperature range, 30 °C has the highest intrinsic rate of increase (r), the net reproductive rate (R₀), and the shortest time for population doubling (DT). The gross reproductive rate (GRR) reached the highest value at 30 °C as well. This study might be a significant step toward funding the future establishment of effective mite control.

Keywords

African red mite

development

Egypt

life history

Plumeria alba

survivorship