Biology of Euseius mesembrinus (Acari: Phytoseiidae): Life Tables and Feeding Behavior on Tetranychid Mites on Citrus

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Feeding behavior and oviposition of Euseius mesembrinus (Dean) were studied in the laboratory at 26°C and 75% RH. Each prey species was allowed to increase on a citrus leaf arena before introducing newly mated adult females of E. mesembrinus. Adult females of E. mesembrinus were able to oviposit when fed ice plant pollen, Malephora crocea (Jacq.), the Texas citrus mite, Eutetranychus banksi (McGregor), the sixspotted mite, Eotetranychus sexmaculatus (Riley), and the citrus red mite, Panonychus citri (McGregor). Life table parameters were constructed for E. mesembrinus where immatures developed on ice plant pollen and adult females were provided mixed life stages of one tetranychid mite species or ice plant pollen. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm) was calculated as 0.244, 0.199, 0.194, and 0.168 when adult females were provided ice plant pollen or the immatures of P. citri, E. banksi, and E. sexmaculatus, respectively. The prey type provided for E. mesembrinus adult females did not affect either progeny sex ratio or survival on ice plant pollen as a food source. Survivorship of E. mesembrinus immatures was significantly higher on ice plant pollen than other food types provided. All motile stages of exposed tetranychid mites were attacked except the adult stage of P. citri. Eggs of P. citri and E. banksi were not fed upon. Eggs of E. sexmaculatus were protected by its webbing; however, exposed eggs were consumed by E. mesembrinus. The citrus rust mite, Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Ashmead), was not a suitable prey.