Suitability of monotypic and mixed diets for development, population growth and predation capacity of Typhlodromus bagdasarjani (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

• Published in: Bulletin of entomological research Vol. 113; no. 1; p. 107
• Main Authors: Mortazavi, Nasimeh, Fathipour, Yaghoub, Talebi, Ali Asghar, Riahi, Elham
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-02-2023
• Subjects: Animals; Diet; Ecosystem; Female; Hemiptera; Pest Control, Biological - methods; Population Growth; Predatory Behavior; Tetranychidae; Tetranychus urticae; predation rate; maize pollen; Trialeurodes vaporariorum; Honeydew; life table
• ISSN: 1475-2670
• DOI: 10.1017/S0007485322000372

We quantified the life table parameters and predation capacity of a generalist predatory mite,
Wainstein and Arutunjan on five monotypic diets, including
Koch (TSSM) eggs in the presence (S
) and absence (S
) of webs,
Westwood (GHWF) eggs (G), honeydew (H), and maize pollen (M) as well as three mixed diets, including S
+ M, S
+ G, and G + M. Our results showed that the individuals fed on the mixed diets had a considerably shorter developmental time and pre-oviposition period (APOP), higher oviposition days, higher fecundity and population growth rate than those raised on the monotypic diets. Furthermore, we found that the mixed diet of TSSM and GHWF eggs was the most favorable diet, resulted in the highest fecundity and population growth rate, shortest developmental time and APOP. While TSSM eggs alone in the presence of webs and honeydew were the worst diets resulted in the longest developmental time, lower oviposition day, higher fecundity and population growth rate. Our data determined that TSSM has more nutritional benefits than GHWF for
. We observed the positive effects of pollen addition to prey on the predatory mite's immature and adult life-history characters; however, it reduced the predation rate. Overall, maize pollen could enhance ecosystem services provided against spider mites and whiteflies by positively impacting the increase of
population. This predator may be more effective when two prey species are available than when only one species is present.