Energy Budget for the Banks Grass Mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) and Its Use in Deriving Mite Body Temperatures

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Abstract
Departure of Banks grass mite, Oligonychus pratensis (Banks), body temperatures from leaf temperatures were calculated, using an energy budget equation. To obtain the radiation term of the equation, mite transmissivity was determined experimentally. Absorptivity estimates were ca. 0.5 in the photosynthetically active wavelengths and ca. 0.2 in the near-infrared wavelengths. However, when adjusted to account for the influence of corn leaf transmissivity, these values became, respectively, 15 and 8% of incident radiation. Mortality rates at various RHs were determined and then used to derive mite resistance to water loss. LT 50 values at 30°C ranged from 16.8 h at 0% RH to 67.7 h at 100% RH. Calculated resistance to water loss was 1.8 × 10 5 sec m −1 and is thus negligible in energy balance calculations. The effects of radiation are small but not negligible. Resulting calculations indicate that mites feeding on leaves will be <0.7°C above leaf temperature.

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