Biological Features and Consumption Capacity of the Predatory Mites Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias -Henriot (Acarina: Phytoseiidae)

Authors: Neset KILINÇER, Sultan ÇOBANOĞLU, Alanur HAS

Abstract: Biological experiments were carried out by maintaining individual predators on detached bean leaves placed on a PVC (2 cm in diameter). The leaves were replaced with fresh predators every other day. All biological tests were conducted at 23±1¼C and 60±5 % relative humidity and with a 16-hour photo period. The duration of incubation period of P. persimilis was determined to be 3.05±0.8 (2-6) days while the percentage of eggs which hatched was 97.50%. The average duration of larval stage of this predatory mite was observed to be 0.86±0.15 days; protonymph and deutonymph stages were determined to be 1.17±:.09 and 1.31±0.12 days, respectively. The mean longevities of preoviposition, oviposition and post oviposition period of P. persimilis females were observed to be 4.83±0.88; 16.64±1.27 and 6.78±2.58 days, respectively. The average values of daily rate of oviposition and fecundity of the female of P. persimilis were determined to be 2.44±0.51 number/female/day and 23.7±2.58 number/female, respectively. The logevity of females was 19±2.90 days while this value was 10.93±1.84 days for males. The sex ratio of P. persimilis was determined from the progeny of 23 females and resulted as 0.62. Reproductive ability of P. persimilis was revealed by constructing a life table. The average number of eggs laid per female was 23.7±2.58 during the oviposition period of 16.64±1.27 days. The net reproduction rate (Ro) was 27.00 female/female. The number of female eggs laid per day per female (age specific fecundity rate) began on the 5th day and reached a peak of 4.38 on the 8th day; this declined rapidly reaching zero on the 20th day. The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) of P. persimilis was 0.399 females per female per day; the generation time (To) was 8.26 days. The finite rate of increase (l) was found to be 1.372. P. persimilis feed on eggs, larvae, nymph and adult stages of prey. The larvae of P. persimilis consumed rather few prey. P. persimilis Protonymph consumed as prey an individual average number of 0.25±0.0, 3.88±1.20, and 5±0.92 from its eggs, immature, and adult stages, respectively. In deutonymph stage, P. persimilis consumed as prey 2.56±0.84, 4.64± 0.31, and 7.67±0.53 from its eggs, immature and adult stages, respectively. The values were 9.40±1.16; 26.44±2.70; and 16.18±1.69, respectively, for the adult stages of predator.

Keywords: