Development, long-term survival, and the maintenance of fertility in Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) reared on an artificial diet

• Published in: Experimental & applied acarology Vol. 45; no. 3-4; pp. 123 - 136
• Main Authors: Ogawa, Yuka, Osakabe, Mh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.08.2008; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acari; Animal and plant ecology; Animal Ecology; Animal Feed; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Araneae; Biological and medical sciences; Biological control; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Control; Demecology; Diet; Eggs; Entomology; Farming systems; Female; Females; Fertility; Food; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hatching; Life Sciences; Longevity; Mites; Mites - growth & development; Mites - physiology; Neoseiulus californicus; Ovum - growth & development; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Phytoseiidae; Pollen; Prey; Protozoa. Invertebrata; Protozoa. Invertebrates; Saccharides; Survival; Tetranychus urticae; Yeasts; Alternative food; Spider mite; Phytoseiid mite; Biological control; Parasitiformes; Acarophagous; Long term; Survival; Arachnida; Pest; Acari; Diet; Beneficial animal; Artificial medium; Arthropoda; Development; Alternative food .Biological control .Phytoseiid mite; Population dynamics; Predator; Invertebrata; Phytoseiidae; Gamasida; Fecundity
• ISSN: 0168-8162; 1572-9702
• DOI: 10.1007/s10493-008-9189-z

The effectiveness of non-prey food items, such as pollen, honeydew, and microbes, in maintaining phytoseiid mite populations is widely accepted. However, the availability of such naturally occurring non-prey foods varies with the season and surrounding environment; thus, it is difficult to manipulate and maintain supplies of these food sources. A great deal of research has examined the development and reproduction of phytoseiid mites on artificial diets. Although phytoseiid mites frequently develop, several studies have detected low fecundities of adult females reared on artificial diets. Therefore, the use of artificial diets for commercial propagation is often difficult. However, the potential of artificial diets to maintain phytoseiid mite populations has not yet been evaluated. In this study, we investigated the developmental success and survival of Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) on an artificial diet. This mite may be one of the most effective phytoseiid species used in agricultural systems for the control of spider mites. N. californicus successfully developed on the artificial diets: 93.5–100% of individuals reached adulthood 4–7 days after hatching. The survival rates of gravid adult females maintained on the AD-1 artificial diet composed of yeast components, saccharides, and egg yolk at 25°C were 100, 80, and 48.9% over 36, 60, and 90 days, respectively. Moreover, >80% of the surviving females maintained on AD-1 for 36 or 60 days laid eggs after being switched to a diet of the spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch, although they had laid few eggs during the maintenance periods on the artificial diet. Our results indicate that artificial diets can serve as a potentially useful food source for the long-term maintenance of N. californicus populations.