Biological responses of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae to different host plant

Abstract

This study investigated the development, reproduction and life-table parameters of the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae (Koch) (Acari: Tetranychidae) reared on beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), cucumber (Cucumis sativus), eggplant (Solanum melongena), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and pepper (Capsicum annuum) and incubated at 25 ± 1 °C in 70 ± 10% RH. And a photoperiod of 16 L: 8 D h. Total immature stages averaged 6.31, 6.06, 6.27, 6.59 and 6.49 days, and the life cycle averaged 9.78, 10.39, 10.73, 10.31 and 10.03 days for mite females reared on beans, cucumber, eggplant, tomato and pepper, respectively. A reduced life span was noted when mites were reared on pepper followed by tomato. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r_m) and finite rate of increase (λ; day⁻¹) were highest for mites reared on beans compared with other host plants. Both beans and cucumber produced the highest net reproductive rate, with each female producing 55.65 and 55.45 offspring/female/generation, respectively.

Keywords:

• Tetranychus urticae
• biology
• life table
• host plants

Acknowledgment

We thank Prof. Dr. A.H. Fouly of Agricultural Zoology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, Egypt, for reviewing an early draft of this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.