Development and reproductive potential of Oulenziella bakeri Hughes (Acari: Winterschmidtiidae) at different constant temperatures

Abstract

Oulenziella bakeri Hughes is a promising alternative prey for mass rearing of predatory mites. However, little is known regarding the effects of different temperatures on the population growth of O. bakeri. In the present study, the developmental duration, survival rate, longevity, fecundity, and sex ratio of O. bakeri were observed under laboratory conditions at 16°C, 20°C, 24°C, 28°C, and 32°C. The developmental duration and whole generation time of O. bakeri shortened with increasing temperature, except for the protonymphal duration, which was the shortest at 24°C. The maximum fecundity of O. bakeri was recorded at 28°C (176.73 eggs/female) but did not significantly differ from that at 24°C (173.80 eggs/female). The sex ratio for the progeny of O. bakeri was female-biased, and showed no significant difference among 16°C, 20°C, and 24°C, but a significant decrease as the temperature further increased. Life table analysis indicated that the net reproductive rate of O. bakeri was highest at 28°C, with a value of 140.37. Furthermore, the intrinsic rate of increase (rm) of O. bakeri ranged from 0.12 to 0.38, and increased with the temperature. Our findings suggested that temperatures of 24°C and 28°C were most suitable among the tested temperatures for rearing O. bakeri.