Bulletin of Entomological Research (2020) 110, 535-541

Afsaneh Soltaniyan, Katayoon Kheradmand, Yaghoub Fathipour and Davoud Shirdel (2020)
Supplementation of natural prey with pollen grains exerts an influence on the life table parameters of Neoseiulus californicus
Bulletin of Entomological Research 110 (4), 535-541
Abstract: Better performance of generalist predators, as well as an increase in their density, may be an incentive factor in the ability of the predators to exploit more than one food item or mixed diets. In this study, the effects of four pollen grains (cedar, pear, apricot, and pistachio) when provided to Neoseiulus californicus in mixed diets with prey, Tetranychus urticae, were evaluated. The result indicated that the fastest female developmental time was observed on pistachio pollen + T. urticae, together with apricot pollen + T. urticae. Females reared on the mixed diet comprising pistachio pollen reflected the longest total life span duration, while the shortest total life span was observed in those on the diet that included pear pollen. Furthermore, the lowest fecundity, as well as the shortest reproduction period, was determined on the diets that included pear pollen, while the highest fecundity and the longest reproduction period were observed in pistachio pollen + T. urticae. In addition, the intrinsic (r) and finite rate of increase (λ), net (R0) and gross (GRR) reproductive rates were highest in pistachio pollen + T. urticae. These findings have important implications for developing a comprehensive biological control program of T. urticae, which will be discussed.
(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): Katayoon Kheradmand, Yaghoub Fathipour

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

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