Starvation tolerance and effects on fitness of predatory mite Amblyseius orientalis.

Abstract

Amblyseius orientalis Ehara (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) has garnered significant attention as an effective predatory mite for controlling spider mites in fruit production in China. However, despite its considerable potential for pest management, A. orientalis may face food shortages during transportation and field application. Currently, there is a lack of information on the effects of starvation on the development, survival, and reproductive capacity of A. orientalis. In this study, we evaluated the impact of starvation on the development, survival and reproduction of A. orientalis. We found that female adults exhibited greater tolerance to starvation than larvae and protonymphs. Approximately 50% of the female adults survived after eight days of starvation. Interestingly, starvation during the early developmental stages extended lifespan, nearly doubling male longevity from 20.56 to 38.00 days, and increasing female longevity from 44.68 to 70.31 days. However, starvation in female adults reduced egg production from 18.46 to 5.33 eggs over a period of ten days, while male reproductive abilities increased from 18.46 to 19.41 eggs. Additionally, the sex ratio of the offspring was not influenced by paternal starvation, but maternal starvation resulted in a male-biased offspring ratio. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that A. orientalis can tolerate starvation at various life stages, enabling it to withstand food shortages during both transportation and application.