title: Prey Preference and Life Table of Amblyseius orientalis on Bemisia tabaci and Tetranychus cinnabarinus.
abstract: Amblyseius orientalis (Ehara) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is a native predatory mite species in China. It used to be considered as a specialist predator of spider mites. However, recent studies show it also preys on other small arthropod pests, such as Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). Experiments were conducted to investigate (1) prey preference of A. orientalis between Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisd.) (Acari: Tetranychidae) and B. tabaci, and (2) development, consumption and life table parameters of A. orientalis when reared on T. cinnabarinus, B. tabaci or a mix of both prey species. When preying on different stages of T. cinnabarinus, A. orientalis preferred protonymphs, whereas when preying on different stages of B. tabaci, A. orientalis preferred eggs. When these two most preferred stages were provided together (T. cinnabarinus protonymphs and B. tabaci eggs), A. orientalis randomly selected its prey. Amblyseius orientalis was able to complete its life cycle on B. tabaci eggs, T. cinnabarinus protonymphs, or a mix of both prey. However, its developmental duration was 53.9% and 30.0% longer when reared on B. tabaci eggs than on T. cinnabarinus and a mix of both prey, respectively. In addition, it produced only a few eggs and its intrinsic rate of increase was negative when reared on B. tabaci eggs, which indicates that B. tabaci is not sufficient to maintain A. orientalis population. The intrinsic rates of increase were 0.16 and 0.23 when A. orientalis was fed on the prey mix and T. cinnabarinus, respectively. These results suggest that although B. tabaci is a poor food resource for A. orientalis in comparison to T. cinnabarinus, A. orientalis is able to sustain its population on a mix of both prey. This predatory mite may thus be a potential biological control agent of B. tabaci when this pest co-occurs with the alternative minor pest T. cinnabarinus.
authors.affiliation: Lab of Predatory Mites, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoxiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Lab of Predatory Mites, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jiale
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Syngenta Biotechnology (China) Co., Ltd., Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Lab of Predatory Mites, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Boming
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Syngenta Biotechnology (China) Co., Ltd., Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Lab of Predatory Mites, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xuenong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Lab of Predatory Mites, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Endong
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000053:Acari / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D005518:Food Preferences; D006430:Hemiptera / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D009753:Nutritive Value; D010063:Ovum / Q000469:parasitology; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D011235:Predatory Behavior; D013045:Species Specificity