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. 2012:12:125.
doi: 10.1673/031.012.12501.

Functional and numerical responses of the predatory mite, Neoseiulus longispinosus, to the red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae, infesting tea

Vattakandy Jasin Rahman  1 , Azariah Babu, Amsalingam Roobakkumar, Kandasamy Perumalsamy
Affiliations

Functional and numerical responses of the predatory mite, Neoseiulus longispinosus, to the red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae, infesting tea

Vattakandy Jasin Rahman et al. J Insect Sci. 2012.

Abstract

Functional and numerical responses of the predatory mite, Neoseiulus longispinosus (Evans) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to the red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae Nietner (Acari: Tetranychidae), infesting tea were determined in a laboratory on leaf discs. Prey consumption increased with increases in temperature and prey density. Handling time decreased and successful attack rate increased with increased temperature. N. longispinosus was more voracious on larvae and nymphs than on adults of O. coffeae. Handling time was higher on adult females than on larvae. Rate of predation leveled off at temperatures greater than 25° C. Functional responses to prey density at six temperatures and to each life stage of O. coffeae approximated the Holling type II model. The oviposition rate increased with prey consumption and temperature. On average, a predator consumed 1.62 adult female prey for every egg it laid. With a fixed number of prey available, predation rate per predator decreased with increased predator density.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Numerical responses (mean ± SE) of Neoseiulus longispinosus female to different density of Oligonychus coffeae females. High quality figures are available online.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Regression models for the relationship between prey density and rate of oviposition of Neoseiulus longispinosus. High quality figures are available online.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Regression models for the relationship between rates of predation and oviposition of Neoseiulus longispinosus. High quality figures are available online.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Numerical responses (mean ± SE) of Neoseiulus longispinosus adult females to Oligonychus coffeae adults at different temperatures. High quality figures are available online.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Regression models for the relationship between temperature and rate of oviposition of Neoseiulus longispinosus. High quality figures are available online.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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