Mating behavior of the predatory mite Euseius scutalis (Acari: Phytoseiidae).

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

2 Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz,Ahvaz, Iran

3 Department of Plant Production Engineering and Genetics,Faculty of Agriculture,Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, ,Ahvaz, Iran

4 Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The mating behavior of the predatory mite Euseius scutalis (Athias-Henriot) (Acari:Phytoseidae) was studied under laboratory conditions at a constant temperature of 25‌ ­± 1 ºC, 60 ± 5% relative humidity and photoperiod of 16: 8 h (L: D). Twenty pairs of newly emerged virgin females and unmated males were kept separately on plastic discs in Petri dishes (9 cm diameter) and their mating behavior was observed continuously under a stereomicroscope using cold light. During mating behavior four phases were recognized. The mean time until the first contact of female and male individuals was approximately 14.4 ± 3.25 minutes (Phase 1). After the first contact the mite male moved to the top of female's dorsum and stayed there for a short time and later moved to the underneath of her in mating position (venter-to-venter position). The mean time needed for this phase was 0.17 ± 0.01 minutes (Phase 2). Then the female walked for mean of 1.09 ± 0.03 minutes in venter-to-venter position (Phase 3). Subsequently the female mite remained still in the mating position for mean of 16.8 ± 0.78 minutes during which probably the sperm transferred from male to female (Phase 4). In addition our results indicated that no changes were observed in the spermathecae of virgin females; after mating most of the females had one spermatophore in one spermatheca while in few of tested females one spermatophore was found in both spermathecae.

Keywords

Extended Abstract

Introduction

The predatory mite Euseius scutalis Athias- Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is an important biological control agent of several plant-feeding mites and whiteflies. It is found in the Middle Eastern countries. In Iran it is found in western provinces including Khuzestan.

Materials and Methods

The mating behavior of the predatory mite E. scutalis was studied under laboratory conditions at a constant temperature of 25±1 ºC, 60±5% relative humidity and photoperiod of 16:8 h (L:D). The initial population of E. scutalis was collected from hollyhock (Altha officinalis L.) leaves grown in the area of Shahid Chamran University of Ahwaz, Ahvaz, Iran during April 2021 and reared on Tetranychus turkestani Ugarov and Nikolski for several generations. Twenty pairs of newly emerged virgin females and unmated males were kept separately on plastic discs in Petri dishes (9 cm diameter) and their mating behavior was observed continuously under a stereomicroscope using cold light. In the current study each mated female was mounted in Hoyer’s medium after mating, and later observed under a microscope (Olympus CH-2, magnification 400X). Additionally, 10 virgin females developed from egg to adult stage and 10 females randomly collected from the stock colony were also mounted and observed. The number of inflated spermathecae (but without spermatophore) and/or inseminated spermatheca (inflated with spermathophore) was recorded.  

Results

  1. scutalis showed Amblyseius-Typhlodromus type mating behavior. The mean time until the first contact of female and male individuals was approximately14.4±3.25 minutes. After the first contact the mite male moved to the top of female's dorsum and stayed there for a short time and later moved to the underneath of her in mating position (venter-to-venter position). The mean time needed for this phase was 0.17±0.01 minutes. Then the female walked for mean of 1.09±0.03 minutes in venter-to-venter position. Subsequently the female mite remained still in the mating position for mean of 16.8±0.78 minutes during which probably the sperm transferred from male to female. Our results indicated that no changes were observed in the spermathecae of virgin females; after a mating most of the females had one spermatophore in one spermatheca while in few of tested females one spermatophore was found in each of the two spermathecae.

Discussion

The Amblyseius-Typhlodromus type mating behavior has been reported in Amblyseius fallacis (Chant), Amblyseius cucumeris Oudemans, Amblyseius andersoni (Chant), Amblyseius degenerans (Berlese), Amblyseius potentiellae (Garman), Galendromus (Typhlodromus) occidentalia (Nesbitt), and Typhlodromus pyri (Schueten). In this study mean real copulation time (venter- to-venter position) lasted 16.8±0.78  minutes. However, longer venter-to-venter  position time have been reported for A. womersleyi Schicha (138 minutes), Kampimodromus aberrans Oudemans (230 minutes), and Typhlodromus exhilarates Ragusa (243 minutes). Our results indicated that at the end of a complete insemination in almost all females a spermatheca contained one spermatophore. Similar results have been reported for Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot, A. andersoni, Neoseiulus bibens Blommers, A. womersley, T. exliaratus, Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor), A. cucumeris, T. pyri and K. aberrans.

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Iranian Journal of Plant Protection Science
Volume 54, Issue 2
March 2024
Pages 247-259

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History

  • Receive Date: 08 June 2023
  • Revise Date: 15 October 2023
  • Accept Date: 30 October 2023

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