Iranian Journal of Plant Protection Science

Iranian Journal of Plant Protection Science

Prey preference and switching behavior of Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on greenhouse whitefly and two-spotted spider mite

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Samira Heydari
Hossein Allahyari
Azade Zahedi Golpayegani
Department of Plant Protection, University College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
10.22059/ijpps.2016.59297
Abstract
Greenhouse whitefly and two-spotted spider mite are two important pests on greenhouse crops. The polyphagous predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii preys on both of these pests. In this research, predation of the predatory mite on different stages of both pests, prey stage preference of pests, prey preference and switching behavior of predator between preferred stage of greenhouse whitefly and two-spotted spider mite were investigated in laboratory conditions (25 ± 1°C, 70 ± 10% RH and 16L: 8D hour photoperiod). The preference index for each experiment was calculated by Manly’s β index. Results showed that, young instars (first and second instars) of greenhouse whitefly and non-sessile stages of spider mites (larvae, protonymph and deuonymph) were preferred stages. Comparison of the mean preference index between young instars of greenhouse whitefly and protonymphs of two-spotted spider mite showed that this predator showed a significant preference to T. urticae. The variation in different ratio of preys had no effect on predatory mite preference so switching didn’t observed in A. swirskii.
Keywords
Manly’s β index
predatory mite no-choice
Trialeurodes vaporariorum
Tetranychus urticae
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Iranian Journal of Plant Protection Science
Volume 47, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1
November 2016
Pages 139-150

  • Receive Date 13 February 2016
  • Revise Date 22 June 2016
  • Accept Date 04 July 2016