Consumption rate and functional response of the predaceous mite Kampimodromus aberrans to two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae in the laboratory

Abstract

Prey stage preference of female Kampimodromus aberrans (Oudemans) (Phytoseiidae) at constant densities of different stages of Tetranychus urticae Koch (Tetranychidae), functional response types and parameters of the predator females to the varying densities of eggs, larvae, protonymphs and deutonymps of T. urticae were determined in order to establish its potential for the mite biological control. Experiments were conducted at 25 ± 1 °C, 65 ± 10% RH and 16:8 (L:D) photoperiod. Our results indicated that the predator consumed significantly more prey larvae than other prey stages. Functional response type of predator was determined by a logistic regression model. The predator exhibited a Type II response on all prey stages. The attack rate (α) and handling time (T ( h )) coefficients of a Type II response were estimated by fitting a "random-predator" equation to the data. The lowest estimated value α and the highest value of T ( h ) (including digestion) were obtanined for the predator feeding on deutonmph. The lowest value of T ( h ) were obtained for the predator feeding on prey larvae, but the attack rate value obtained on larva wasn't different than that obtained on egg and protonymph. According to our results, K. aberrans could be an efficient biological control agent of T. urticae at least at low prey densities. However, further field based studies are needed to draw firm conclusions.

Feeding habits of overwintered predatory mites inhabiting European vineyards

“…In A. andersoni the highest values were associated with the lowest prey density and the optimal ratio was obtained when four prey were offered per day. The results obtained in the response of the three predatory mites species to E. carpini density show some similarities to those found for these predatory mites (laboratory colonies) fed with prey other than E. carpini (e.g., Dicke et al 1988;Koveos and Broufas 2000;Lester and Harmsen 2002;Kasap and Atlihan 2011). To our knowledge the present study is the first where the response of the three predatory mites species to prey density has been investigated in the same conditions and using the same prey.…”

<strong>Molecular and biological characterization of <em>Neoseiulus</em> species from China</strong>

“…Consumption rate of the predators is generally inversely related to prey size (Kasap & Atlihan 2011) but in this study, consumption rate of N. californicus of Tetranychus larvae was the highest, followed by the nymphs, and the consumption rate of eggs is the lowest. This might be due to the fact that larvae and nymphs of Tetranychus fed in clusters which make them relatively easy to handle them.…”

Functional and Numerical Responses of the Predatory Mite,Neoseiulus longispinosus, to the Red Spider Mite,OligonychusCoffeae, Infesting Tea

“…However, Ibrahim and Palacio (1994) noted that N. longispinosus preferred larvae and nymphs of Tetranychus urticae to eggs. The predatory mites N. californicus (Canlas et al 2006) and Kampimodromus aberrans (Kasap and Atlihan 2010) also showed preference for larvae when fed T. urticae .…”