{"title":"Effectiveness of the predatory mite <i>Neoseiulus cucumeris</i> on two-spotted spider mite and western flower thrips: A quantitative assessment.","authors":"Sajjad Dalir, Hamidreza Hajiqanbar, Yaghoub Fathipour, Mostafa Khanamani","doi":"10.1017/S0007485325000033","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The present study describes the feeding effects of <i>Neoseiulus cucumeris</i> Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on western flower thrips (WFT), <i>Frankliniella occidentalis</i> (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and two-spotted spider mite (TSSM), <i>Tetranychus urticae</i> Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae). In addition, daily and total predation capacity, preference, and prey switching potential of this predator were studied on both pest species. WFT had a boosting effect on the biological parameters of <i>N. cucumeris</i>, primarily resulting in shorter developmental time, higher fecundity, and higher population growth potential than TSSM. Although immatures and males of <i>N. cucumeris</i> consumed significantly more TSSM than WFT, there was no significant difference in net predation rate, stable and finite predation rates of the predator between two prey species. We found an average of 10.58 and 7.93 TSSM and WFT are required to produce a single predator egg, respectively. WFT is preferred over TSSM by the predator. Negative switching behaviour was seen in <i>N. cucumeris</i> as it switched from the abundant prey to the rare prey. Both prey species were suitable for <i>N. cucumeris</i>, being able to develop successfully on them. The predator performed optimally on WFT compared with TSSM owing to its enhanced biological parameters as well as its preference, indicating that thrips are a more relevant resource than spider mites.</p>","PeriodicalId":9370,"journal":{"name":"Bulletin of Entomological Research","volume":" ","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Bulletin of Entomological Research","FirstCategoryId":"97","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007485325000033","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"ENTOMOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The present study describes the feeding effects of Neoseiulus cucumeris Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and two-spotted spider mite (TSSM), Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae). In addition, daily and total predation capacity, preference, and prey switching potential of this predator were studied on both pest species. WFT had a boosting effect on the biological parameters of N. cucumeris, primarily resulting in shorter developmental time, higher fecundity, and higher population growth potential than TSSM. Although immatures and males of N. cucumeris consumed significantly more TSSM than WFT, there was no significant difference in net predation rate, stable and finite predation rates of the predator between two prey species. We found an average of 10.58 and 7.93 TSSM and WFT are required to produce a single predator egg, respectively. WFT is preferred over TSSM by the predator. Negative switching behaviour was seen in N. cucumeris as it switched from the abundant prey to the rare prey. Both prey species were suitable for N. cucumeris, being able to develop successfully on them. The predator performed optimally on WFT compared with TSSM owing to its enhanced biological parameters as well as its preference, indicating that thrips are a more relevant resource than spider mites.
期刊介绍:
Established in 1910, the internationally recognised Bulletin of Entomological Research aims to further global knowledge of entomology through the generalisation of research findings rather than providing more entomological exceptions. The Bulletin publishes high quality and original research papers, ''critiques'' and review articles concerning insects or other arthropods of economic importance in agriculture, forestry, stored products, biological control, medicine, animal health and natural resource management. The scope of papers addresses the biology, ecology, behaviour, physiology and systematics of individuals and populations, with a particular emphasis upon the major current and emerging pests of agriculture, horticulture and forestry, and vectors of human and animal diseases. This includes the interactions between species (plants, hosts for parasites, natural enemies and whole communities), novel methodological developments, including molecular biology, in an applied context. The Bulletin does not publish the results of pesticide testing or traditional taxonomic revisions.