Life cycle of the predatory mite Cheyletus malaccensis (Acari: Cheyletidae) fed on Poultry Red Mite Dermanyssus gallinae (Acari: Dermanyssidae)

Abstract

This study evaluated the biological characteristics of predatory mite Cheyletus malaccensis fed on Dermanyssus gallinae at different temperatures. The study started with thirty individual eggs of C. malaccensis each isolated in an experimental unit, which developed throughout their life stages while feeding on D. gallinae at each temperature tested (20ºC, 25ºC and 30±1ºC and 80±5% relative humidity). Emerged adult females were not mated, thus producing only male offspring (arrhenotoky). Fecundity was the highest at 25°C (415.62±24.78 eggs/female) and lowest at 20°C followed at 30ºC. The mean length of a generation did not displayed difference among the three temperatures, but the net reproductive rate (Ro), innate capacity for increase (rm) finite increase rate (λ) were significantly higher at 30°C and lower at 20°C. Cheyletus malaccensis was able to develop and reproduce successfully when fed D. gallinae, and the optimum temperature for development, fertility and survival was 25°C. Our findings proved that C. malaccensis might be a natural enemy of D. gallinae, because it was able to develop and reproduce while feeding exclusively on this ectoparasite.

Age-Stage, Two-Sex Life Tables of the Predatory Mite Cheyletus Malaccensis Oudemans at Different Temperatures

“…The immature period development time decreased with increased temperature, which is consistent with other reports describing the effects of temperature on the growth and development of C. malaccensis [13,15,21,22]. The immature period development was slower compared to the findings of Palyvos and Emmanouel [15] at 25 • C and 30 • C, using Tyrophagus putrescentiae as prey.…”

“…After 24 h, 50 eggs were collected and designated as the F1 generation for further study. To determine the optimum development temperature, experiments were conducted at five temperatures (22,24,28,30, and 32 • C), with 75% RH. The F1 generation eggs from each adult were randomly selected as a cohort to construct the corresponding life table.…”

“…Eggs were individually placed inside blocks and subjected to different temperatures (22,24,28,30, and 32 • C) at 75% RH. A. siro were used as food and 15-25 A. siro were added daily for each C. malaccensis.…”

“…Temperature affects the survival and development of mites [20], and seasonal temperature variations also affect predator-prey interactions [12]. For C. malaccensis, the female life span (egg to adult) is longer (20- [22] found that fecundity was highest at 25 • C with the value of 415.62 ± 24.78 eggs/female, and lowest at 20 • C. Thus, temperature has a significant influence on the development and reproduction of C. malaccensis [14,23].…”

Predation interactions among henhouse‐dwelling arthropods, with a focus on the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae

“…Although biological control is well developed and has been successfully adopted to control pest arthropods in crop farming, this method has more recently begun to be developed against pests in livestock production and is still in its infancy. To date, five predatory mites were experimentally shown to have potential in PRM biological control: Cheyletus eruditus (Schrank) and C. malaccensis (Oudemans), Androlaelaps casalis (Berlese), Hypoaspis aculeifer (Canestrini), and Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Womersley) 13,14,17–19 . The two predatory mites A. casalis and C. eruditus are currently mass‐reared and used as biocontrol agents of PRM in laying poultry farms, 7,20 but their efficiency in the field should be improved by complementary research 18,20 .…”