BioControl (2022) 67, 173-187

Narges Eini, Shahriar Jafari, Yaghoub Fathipour and Myron P. Zalucki (2022)
How pollen grains of 23 plant species affect performance of the predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus
BioControl 67 (2), 173-187
Abstract: Pollen is used as a dietary supplement or alternative food by predatory mites during prey scarcity and in a mass rearing system. Pollen grains of 23 plant species, as well as the phytophagous mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Tetranychidae) were offered to Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Phytoseiidae) as food under laboratory conditions. Scanning electron microscopy was used to compare the surface morphology of plant pollen species. Neoseiulus californicus was able to develop on pollen of 14 plant species tested, while the pollen of nine plants were not suitable. Unsuitable plant pollen species had long and sharp spines or a thick impervious exine layer. Overall pre-adult period ranged from 5.08 days on thorn apple to 12.45 days on tomato pollen. Fecundity was significantly higher when the predator fed on pistachio pollen (62.23 eggs). Females reared on pistachio and pomegranate pollen had the longest and shortest adult longevity, respectively. The highest and lowest net reproductive rate (R₀) were on pistachio pollen (26.97 eggs per individual) and hemp pollen (2.98 eggs per individual), respectively. The shortest and longest mean generation times (T) were observed on pomegranate pollen (13.4 days) and sunflower pollen (24.84 days), respectively. The highest values of the intrinsic rate of increase (r) were found on pistachio pollen (0.217 days^-1) and thorn apple pollen (0.214 days^-1) and the lowest on sunflower pollen (0.046 days^-1). On prey mites, T. urticae, the r value was 0.205 days^-1. Feeding on pistachio and thorn apple pollen lead to the best performance of N. californicus and these pollens could be used to improve the experimental and commercial mass rearing programs of this predator or inter-planted to support the predator population in the field.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Shahriar Jafari, Yaghoub Fathipour, Myron P. Zalucki

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution
rearing/culturing/mass production

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Tetranychus urticae		Iran
Neoseiulus californicus (predator)	Tetranychus urticae		Iran