Study of life table and predation efficiency of Typhlodromus bagdasarjani (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) fed Eotetranychus frosti (Trombidiformes: Tetranychidae) reared on different apple cultivars

ABSTRACT

The life table parameters and predation rate of Typhlodromus bagdasarjani Wainstein & Arutunjan (Phytoseiidae) fed on Eotetranychus frosti (McGregor) (Tetranychidae) nymphs reared on four apple cultivars Kohanz Golab, Imperial Gala, Lebanon Red, and Granny Smith were studied under laboratory conditions. The longest developmental time of immature stages in females was observed on Kohanz Golab, and the shortest one was on Granny Smith. The fecundity ranged from 27.28 eggs on Golab Kohanz to 41.98 eggs on Granny Smith. The highest and lowest intrinsic rate of increase (r) were obtained on Granny Smith (0.254 day-1), and Kohanz Golab (0.136 day-1), respectively. The total prey consumption by all immature stages on Kohanz Golab, Imperial Gala, Lebanon Red, and Granny Smith was 36.93, 29.93, 27.36, and 21.30 prey, respectively. The total prey consumption by adult females was 424.70±24.41 prey on Kohanz Golab, 327.39±18.50 prey on Imperial Gala, 289.77±17.42 prey on Lebanon Red, and 218.50±14.64 prey on Granny Smith. The lowest fecundity and intrinsic rate of increase as well as the longest total life span of the predator on the resistant cultivar (Kohanz Golab) to E. frosti showed that integrated use of resistant cultivars and phytoseiid mites for control of spider mites needs more investigations.             

KEYWORDS:

• Apple cultivars
• tetranychid mites
• predatory mite
• predation rate
• intrinsic rate of increase

Acknowledgments

This research has been partially supported by Lorestan University, which is greatly appreciated.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).