Neoseiulus bicaudus (Wainstein), a species of Neoseiulus Hughes (Acari: Phytoseiidae), was collected at Ili in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China in July 2013. As Neoseiulus species are valuable predator mites, N. bicaudus could be used for biocontrol of some small pests like spider mites, whitefly, and thrips. Tetranychus turkestani (Ugarov et Nikolskii) is the main spider mite affecting agriculture and forestry in Xinjiang. The development rate and reproductive biology of N. bicaudus feeding on T. turkestani were studied at six constant temperatures: 18 °C, 22 °C, 26 °C, 29 °C, 32 °C, and 35 °C. The duration of the egg, larva, protonymph, total immature, and pre-oviposition stages all decreased as temperatures increased from 18 °C to 32 °C and then increased slightly as temperatures increased from 32 °C to 35 °C. The mean generation time (6.95 days) and the shortest time for the population to double (1.70 days) were observed at 35 °C. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm) and the finite rate of increase (λ) both were larger as temperature increased, reaching their maxima at 35 °C. The net reproductive rate (R0 = 34.60) also reached a maximum at 26 °C. The maximum daily fecundity (2.55 eggs/day/female) and the maximum daily female fecundity (1.69female eggs/day/female) were both observed at 26 °C. The results showed that N. bicaudus could complete its development at the six temperatures used in this study. Both the developmental duration as well as the time needed for the population to double decreased as temperature increased. As temperature increased, the duration of the oviposition period first increased and then decreased. The optimal development and reproduction temperature of N. bicaudus preying on T. turkestani is approximately 26 °C.
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31 July 2015
Effects of temperature on development and reproduction of Neoseiulus bicaudus (Phytoseiidae) feeding on Tetranychus turkestani (Tetranychidae)
Yong-Tao Li,
Jue-Ying-Qi Jiang,
Yan-Qin Huang,
Zhen-Hui Wang,
Jian-Ping Zhang
Systematic and Applied Acarology
Vol. 20 • No. 5
July 2015
Vol. 20 • No. 5
July 2015
developmental duration
intrinsic rate of natural increase
life table
predatory mite
spider mite
survival rate