Interspecific Competition and Hybridization between Twospotted and Carmine Spider Mites1

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Abstract
Male spider mites of two sibling species, Tetranychus urticae and Tetranychus cinnabarinus, compete equally for and mate nonassortatively with females of either species. Fecundity in females mated interspecifically is normal but the female/male sex ratio of hybrid progeny is reduced. The ability of males to compete equally enhances the potential of hybrid sterility as a realistic genetic control method for spider mites in greenhouses.