Predator-Prey Preferences and Life-Table-Parameters of Cheletogenes ornatus (Canestrini & Fanzago) to Red Palm Mite Raoiella indica Hirst and Date Scale-Insect Parlatoria blanchardii (Targ.)

Document Type : Original research articles

Authors

1 Plant Protection Research Institute, A.R.C., Dokki, Egypt

2 Faculty of Technology & Development, Zagazig University, Egypt

Abstract

The mite, Cheletogenes ornatus (C.&F.) was reared on three different types of food, eggs and immatures of Raoiella indica Hirst (Acari: Tenuipalpidae), and crawlers of date-scale-insect, Parlatoria blanchardii (Targ.) at laboratory conditions (15± 2°C and 50±5% R.H.). This study showed that female predator had two nymphal stages; while the male had only one. The predatory mite was noted under date-scale insects at date-palm-trees with a high numbers. The population of predator increased following the increase of the tenuipalpid mite, R.indica during in October to February. The results showed that high capacity of predator population growth revealed the high ability of the predator to suppress R.indica and P. blanchardii populations on date palm. Predation potential was greatest for larvae, followed by protonymphs, then deutonymphs. Predator consumed an average of 106.8 &158.2 preys for male and female during its life span, respectively. Cannibalism was noticed when food was absent. The mean generation time (T) of the predatory mite, C. ornatus was significantly affected by the type of food. The longest time needed for one generation (21.23) times was recorded when mite fed on crawlers of date-scale-insect, whereas the shorter period was (18.65) days when fed on eggs of R. indica. The population of predator had capacity to double (DT) every (3.38, 3.48 and4.01 times) within a single generation when fed on the three different types of food, respectively. Eggs of R. indica was the most preferable food compared with those tested as it recorded the highest value of (rm) 0.205 .It was clear that Finite rate of predator increase (λ) had capacity to multiply about (1.227; 1.219; 1.189) times/female/day and Gross reproductive rate (GRR) was (59.16; 55.99 and 49.22) times/female/day when reared on the three different foods, respectively.

Keywords

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics