Immature stages and life history of the predatory mite species Amblyseius barkeri (Hughes, 1948) (Acarina, Gamasida, Phytoseiidae)

Abstract

The immature stages of the phytoseiid mite Amblyseius barkeri Hughes are described and illustrated. Incubation period averaged 2.0 ± 0.75 days while female and male total immature stages lasted 8.43 ± 0.8 and 6.86 ± 1.07 days, during which they consumed 9.4 ± 2.3 and 8.43 ± 0.97 Tetranychus urticae Koch nymphs, respectively. The female and male life span averaged 34.70 ± 2.0 and 24.8 ± 1.6 days, during which the predator consumed 161.43 ± 13.16 and 106.8 ± 16.42 prey individuals, respectively. During oviposition period, average female attacked 52.92% of the total prey individuals consumed during its longevity, and laid 13.20 ± 0.86 eggs with a daily rate of 1.02 ± 0.26 eggs.

Incidence of predatory phytoseiid mites in Saudi Arabia: new records and a key to the Saudi Arabian species (Acari: Mesostigmata: Gamasina)

“…C (Fouly and El-Laithy 1992) are close to that reported in the present study against O. afrasiaticus.…”

“…Therefore, we assumed that it is worth studying C. negevi on A. ovatus for mass rearing purposes which may give promising results. Development of N. barkeri female immatures on T. urticae at 25 C was 8.4 d when estimated by Fouly and El-Laithy (1992) and 6.3 d by Jafari et al (2011). These values are shorter than obtained in the current study (9.6 at 25 C) and show the preference of T. urticae for this predator as prey.…”

“…Total fecundity value of N. barkeri against O. afrasiaticus at 25 C, with one exception (13.2 eggs) when offered T. urticae as prey, is lower than the range reported for other food sources (36.8-54.8 eggs) (Table 6). Fouly and El-Laithy (1992) stated that females of N. barkeri only accepted coupling once.…”

“…Cydnoseius negevi (Swirski and Amitai 1961) and Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes 1948 (Acari: Phytoseiidae) are common species found in the Middle East (Abou-Awad et al 1989, Fouly and El-Laithy 1992, Abou-Awad et al 1998, Palevsky et al 2009, Hountondji et al 2010, Jafari et al 2010. The natural occurrence of these predators was reported in datepalm orchards at different provinces of Saudi Arabia (Negm et al 2012a, b).…”

The superfamily Phytoseioidea (Acari: Mesostigmata) from Saudi Arabia: a new species, new records and a key to the reported species

“…Cydnoseius negevi (Swirski and Amitai) and Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes naturally occur in date palm orchards in different regions of SA and are the most abundant species found even on date palm trees (Negm et al 2012 a). Cydnoseius negevi is a common phytoseiid species found in Middle East countries (AbouAwad et al 1989(AbouAwad et al , 1998Fouly and Laithy 1992;Palevsky et al 2009;Hountondji et al 2010) and feeds on wide range of phytophagous mites and small insect pests (Momen 2010).…”