The fitness of Metaseiulus occidentalis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) adult females after different intervals of storage at low temperatures
Keywords:
augmentative release, biological control, cold storage, fecundity, predator, survival rateAbstract
This study was carried out to determine the effects of temperature, relative humidity (RH), and an additional food source (honey) on the survival of Metaseiulus occidentalis (Nesbitt) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) females under cold-storage conditions. Survival was evaluated after 2, 4, and 8 wk at 7 or 10 °C under 75 or 95% RH. At the end of each cold-storage interval, surviving females were transferred to bean leaf discs with Tetranychus urticae Koch (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae) as prey, and their longevity, total number of eggs, and number of eggs each female produced per day were recorded. The highest survival rate (78.3%) was observed after 2 wk at 10 °C and 95% RH without honey in the tube. Survival was next highest (75%) after 2 wk at 7 °C and 95% RH without honey in tube. Survival was 76.7% at 7 °C with 95% RH without honey after 4 wk. Survival was low after 8 wk at both 7 or 10 °C, with 0 and 13.3% survival, respectively, at 95% RH. Adult longevity, the total number of eggs deposited, and the average number of eggs per female per day were not significantly different between females held for 2 or 4 wk at 7 or 10 °C at 95% RH with or without honey. Based on these results, M. occidentalis can be cold stored at 7 and 10 °C at 95% RH for up to 4 wk, but adding honey provided no benefit to the females.
Resumen
Se realizó este estudio para determinar los efectos de la temperatura, la humedad relativa (HR) y una fuente de alimentación adicional (miel) sobre la sobrervivencia de hembras de Metaseiulus occidentalis (Nesbitt) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) en condiciones de frío. Se evaluó la sobrevivencia después de 2, 4 y 8 semanas a los 7 o 10 °C bajo 75 o 95% de HR. Al final de cada intervalo de almacenamiento en frío, hembras sobrevivientes fueron trasladadas a discos de hojas de frijol con Tetranychus urticae Koch (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae) como presa y se registró su longevidad, el número total de huevos, y el número de huevos por hembra producida por día. Se observó la tasa de sobrevivencia más alta (78.3%) después de 2 semanas a 10 °C y 95% HR sin miel en el tubo. La siguiente sobrevivencia fue más alta (75%) fue después de 2 semanas a 7 °C y 95% HR sin miel en el tubo. La sobrevivencia fue 76.7% a 7 °C con 95% HR sin miel después de 4 semanas. La sobrevivencia fue baja después de 8 semanas en tanto 7 o 10 °C a 95% de HR, con 0 y 13.3% de sobrevivencia, respectivamente. La longevidad de los adultos, el número total de huevos depositados, y el número promedio de huevos por hembra por día no fueron significativamente diferentes entre hembras mantenidos por 2 o 4 semanas a 7 o 10 °C a 95% de humedad relativa con o sin miel. Basándose en estos resultados, M. occidentalis pueden ser almacenados en frío a 7 y 10 °C a 95% de humedad relativa hasta 4 semanas, pero la adición de miel no proporciona ningún beneficio para las hembras.
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