Influence of three diets on development and oviposition of the predatory mite, Amblyseius herbicolus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) under laboratory conditions

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The predatory phytoseiid mite, Amblyseius herbicolus Chant has been collected from mulberry trees infested with two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch and mulberry thrips, Pseudodendrothrips mori (Niwa) in Guilan province. Development and oviposition of this predatory mite was studied on two-spotted spider mite, mulberry thrips and date palm pollen as an alternative food in laboratory using the citrus excised leaf method in Petri dishes at 26 ± 1°C, 14L: 10D photoperiod and 70-80% RH. The results indicated that, mean duration of immature stages (day) of female predatory mite was the lowest on P. mori (4.86  0.19) and T. urticae (5.26  0.15) and the highest on date palm pollen (7.46  0.21). Fecundity (eggs/female) was the highest on P. mori (48.2  1.85) then on T. urticae (36.2  1.9) and the lowest on date palm pollen (19.13  1.72). Oviposition period (day) was the highest on P. mori (20.86  051) and T. urticae (20.33  1.19) and the lowest on date palm pollen (16.06  .97). Lowest post-oviposition period (day) was on T. urticae (3.13  0.19) followed by date palm pollen (4.37  0.28) and then on P. mori (5.6  0.27). The mean generation time (day) of predatory mite was the longest on palm pollen (9.86  0.21), followed by mulberry thrips (7.13  0.21) and then two-spotted spider mite (6.86  0.16). Based on these results, A. herbicolus is a general predator. The date palm pollen may variously be used as an alternative food in absence of main food.

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Journal of Entomological Society of Iran
Volume 30, Issue 1
September 2010
Pages 51-68

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