Influence of Temperature on the Reproductive Potential of Two Mite Predators of the Two-Spotted Spider Mite

Abstract

Can. Ent. 100: 549-556 (1968) Oviposition of the predacious mites Phytoseiulus persirnilis and Typhlodrornus fallacis began 2 days after mating, reached a peak in 1 week, and then declined irregularly. The rates of oviposition were higher, and the oviposition period shorter at 26" than at 20°C. P. persirnilis laid 47% more eggs than T. fallacis. The generation time for both species was very dependent on temperature. Minimum values of 112 hours for P. persirnilis and 127 hours for T. fallacis were obtained at 28".Calculations of potential predator populations from the generation time, agespecific fecundity, and proportion of females were made on a daily basis for successive generations. The potential number of living females derived from one mated pair increased logarithmically after a few cycles representing new generations. The rate of increase of P. persirnilis populations was 26% higher than that of T. fallacis, and in both species the rate at 26" was about double the rate at 20".

Influence of temperature and relative humidity on the development ofAmblyseius alstoniae (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

“…In Phytoseiulus persimilis it is the reverse, being higher at 20~ than 26~ (McLanahan, 1968 ). Further, in A. fallacis, there is no difference at 26.7 and 30 ~ (Smith and Newsom, 1970).…”

Influence of prey availability on reproduction and prey consumption ofPhytoseiulus persimilis, Amblyseius californicusandMetaseiulus occidentalis(Acarina: Phytoseiidae)

“…McMurtry et al (1970) state that the mean total eggs per phytoseiid female tends to vary considerably depending on the species and testing conditions. Evidence presented by other authors suggests that for P. persimilis (Dosse, 1958;Bohm, 1966;Laing, 1968;McClanahan, 1968) and Iphiseius degenerans Berlese (Takafuji and Chant, 1976) mean total eggs per female remained rather constant. Data from the present study (Table 1) suggest that the 3 subject phytoseiids have a fixed potential fecundity, and that within this potential, as the ovipositional rate increases, the oviposition period decreases.…”

Effects of contrasting diets and temperatures on reproduction and prey consumption by Proprioseiopsis asetus (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

“…Temperature is probably the most important abiotic factor affecting the rate of population growth of phytophagous mites (Ferro and Chapman 1979;Bergh and Judd 1993), thrips (Kirk 1985;Teulon and Penman 1991;Houten et al 1993), their predators (Ma and Laing 1973;McClanahan 1982;Fournier et al 1985;Castagnoli and Liguori 1991;Hardman and Rogers 1991) and their interactions (Force 1967;Stenseth 1979;Sabelis 1985a;Perring and Lackey 1989). Under conditions of high temperature and/or low humidity, the numerical response of most phytoseiid predators is inadequate, whereas the population growth of spider mites is often accelerated under these conditions (Force 1967;Stenseth 1979;Perring and Lackey 1989).…”