title: Functional and numerical responses of the predatory mite, Neoseiulus longispinosus, to the red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae, infesting tea.
abstract: Functional and numerical responses of the predatory mite, Neoseiulus longispinosus (Evans) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to the red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae Nietner (Acari: Tetranychidae), infesting tea were determined in a laboratory on leaf discs. Prey consumption increased with increases in temperature and prey density. Handling time decreased and successful attack rate increased with increased temperature. N. longispinosus was more voracious on larvae and nymphs than on adults of O. coffeae. Handling time was higher on adult females than on larvae. Rate of predation leveled off at temperatures greater than 25° C. Functional responses to prey density at six temperatures and to each life stage of O. coffeae approximated the Holling type II model. The oviposition rate increased with prey consumption and temperature. On average, a predator consumed 1.62 adult female prey for every egg it laid. With a fixed number of prey available, predation rate per predator decreased with increased predator density.
authors: Entomology Division, UPASI Tea Research Foundation Tea Research Institute, Nirar Dam (BPO), Valparai 642 127 Coimbatore (Dt), Tamil Nadu, India. jasinrahman@gmail.com
authors: Vattakandy Jasin
authors: VJ
authors: Rahman
authors: Azariah
authors: A
authors: Babu
authors: Amsalingam
authors: A
authors: Roobakkumar
authors: Kandasamy
authors: K
authors: Perumalsamy
mesh_terms: D000053:Acari / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D061046:Biological Control Agents; D005260:Female; D020387:Food Chain; D007194:India; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D009758:Nymph / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D010058:Oviposition; D018515:Plant Leaves; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011235:Predatory Behavior; D013662:Tea; D013694:Temperament; D040102:Tetranychidae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D061046:Biological Control Agents; D013662:Tea