Influence of Pre-Imaginal Stages of Bemisia tabaci on Development, Life Table Parameters, and Predation Rate of Euseius scutalis (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

The predatory mite, Euseius scutalis (Athias-Henriot), was studied in terms of its development, survival, and life table parameters on two preimaginal stages (egg and first instar nymph) of its prey, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hem.: Aleyrodidae). The first instar nymphs of B. tabaci were found to be the preferred food for E. scutalis, resulting in decreased developmental time from egg to adult, as well as a shorter pre-oviposition period and a higher rate of oviposition. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) was found to be ۰.۱۵۰۳ d-۱ on the first instar nymphs and ۰.۰۸۴۳ d-۱ on eggs of the prey. On average, females’ E. scutalis consumed ۱۶.۳۰ eggs and ۲۹.۴۰ nymphs from their emergence to death. When first instar nymphs of B. tabaci were provided, E. scutalis showed a higher net predation rate (C۰) and finite predation rate (ω) compared to feeding on eggs. On average, it consumed ۳.۵۲ eggs or ۲.۷۶ first instar nymphs of B. tabaci to produce a single egg of E. scutalis. In terms of sex ratio of the progeny, predatory females that fed on the first instar nymphs produced more females.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cotton whitefly ، Growth rate ، Phytoseiidae ، predation rate ، sex ratio