title: Effect of temperature on development and reproduction of Neoseiulus barkeri (Acari: Phytoseiidae) fed on Aleuroglyphus ovatus.
abstract: The effect of five constant temperatures (16, 20, 24, 28 and 32°C) on the development, survival and reproduction of Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes fed on Aleuroglyphus ovatus Toupeau (Acari: Acaridae) was examined in the laboratory at 85% relative humidity. Development time of different immature stages decreased with increasing temperature, total egg-to-adult development time varied from 5.0 ± 0.13 to 17.5 ± 0.29 days. The lower thermal threshold for development was 9.7 ± 2.48°C and the thermal constant from egg to adult was 111.1 ± 12.34 degree-days. Pre- and post-oviposition period and female longevity all shortened as temperature increased. The longest oviposition period was observed at 24°C with 20.4 ± 1.13 days. At 20, 24, 28 and 32°C, mated females laid on average 0.7 ± 0.08, 1.5 ± 0.04, 1.6 ± 0.11 and 1.5 ± 0.11 eggs per day, respectively, but no eggs were laid at 16°C. Both the maximum fecundity (30.9 eggs per female) and the highest intrinsic rate of increase (r (m) = 0.166) were obtained at 28°C. The results of this study indicated that a mass rearing of N. barkeri with A. ovatus as prey is feasible at the appropriate temperature.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China. xiabin9@163.com
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Zhiwen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Pengxin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D040041:Acaridae; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D008925:Mites / Q000254:growth & development*; D010058:Oviposition; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D011158:Population Growth; D013696:Temperature