Effects of artificial and natural diets on the development and reproduction of two phytoseiid mites Amblyseius gossipi and Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Abstract

The predacious mites Amblyseius gossipi El-Badry and A. swirskii Athias-Henroit developed, survived and reproduced successfully on several artificial diets. The best diet consisted of 1 g yeast, 1 g milk, 30 mg cystine, 30 mg proline, 30 mg arginine, 20 mg sucrose, 50 mg glucose, 30 mg streptomycin sulphate and droplets of sorbic acid. Mean eggs/female/day by the two predators was 0.54 and 030 when reared on the best diet compared to 1.21 and 0.40 when fed on a natural diet, respectively. Female longevity of A. swirskiiv/as 84 3 days, nearly twice as long as that on a natural diet Eggs showed no abnormalities; larvae fed on diets had normal development, and adults were comparable hi size to individuals reared on a natural diet. Resuml-Les acariens a predation, Amblyseius gossipi El Badry et A. swirskii Athias-Henroit etaient capables de se developper, survivre et se reproduire avec succes sur plusieurs milieux artificiels. Un milieu artlficiel compose de levure, lait, acides amlne et sucres a indiuit une oviposition soutenue et fourni un alimentation suffesante pour les predateurs. Le taux moyen d'oviposition des femelles etait d'environ la moitie et les 3/4 du taux complet chez les deux predateurs respectivement quand lls etaient testes sur milieu naturel. La longevity des femelles deA. swirskii etait a peu pres deux fois aussi longue que sur milieu naturel. Les oeufs obtenus des essais d'oviposition ne montraient aucune anotmalete. Les larves alimentees sur milieux artificiels avaient un developpement normal. Les adultes etaient semblables en taille aux indlvidus eleves sur milieux naturels.

Life tables and development of Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae) at different temperatures

“…El-Laithy and Fouly (1992) estimated an rm of 0.167 for A. swirskii feeding on T. urticae at 26°C. This is somewhat greater than our estimate, and the higher value may reflect feeding on animal prey versus plant pollen (Abou-Awad et al 1992). Abou-Awad et al (1999) estimated an r m of 0.155 and 0.122 for A. swirskii feeding on the eriophyid mites Aceria ficus (Cotte) and Rhynacaphytoptus ficifoliae Kiefer (Acari: Eriophyidae), respectively, at 29°C, which is very close to our estimate at 30°C.…”

Development and reproduction of the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii on artificial diets

“…However, a slightly modified version of this artificial diet used in our study (AD1, without insect hemolymph) proved suitable to support development of A. swirskii and also allowed some reproduction. The oviposition rate of A. swirskii on AD1 was higher than that on an artificial diet designed by Abou-Awad et al (1992). Moreover, it was similar to that of mites reared on the natural prey F. occidentalis (Wimmer et al 2008) and superior to that of females fed on the carmine spider mite Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval) and brown soft scale Coccus hesperidum (L.) (Ragusa and Swirski 1977).…”

“…However, the oviposition rate of all species fed on artificial diet was only about one third of that achieved on natural diets. Abou-Awad et al (1992) showed that Amblyseius gossipi El-Badry and A. swirskii developed, survived and reproduced on several artificial diets consisting of yeast, milk, cystine, proline, arginine, sucrose, glucose, streptomycin sulphate, and sorbic acid. However, females fed on the best performing artificial diet had lower oviposition rates than those on natural diet.…”

Rearing the predaceous mite, Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) (Phytoseiidae) on artificial diets

“…However, a slightly modified version of this artificial diet used in our study (AD, without hemolymph) proved suitable to support development of A. swirskii and also, allowed some reproduction. The oviposition rate of A. swirskii on AD1 was higher than that on an artificial diet designed by Abou-Awad et al, 1992. The relatively good performance of A. swirskii on artificial diet AD1 might be due to the generalist feeding habits of this phytoseiid mite (Momen and El-Saway, 1993). Nettles, 1990 andDeclercq, 2003) noted that adding insect components such as hemolymph to artificial media enhanced their acceptability and improved their nutritional quality for a number of entomophagous insects.…”