Environmental Entomology (2007) 36, 369-375

Tie-Lu Mo and Tong-Xian Liu (2007)
Predation and life table of Feltiella acarisuga (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) preying on eggs of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae)
Environmental Entomology 36 (2), 369-375
Abstract: Feltiella acarisuga (Vallot) is a common gall midge that feeds on many species of spider mites. Predation and all major biological and life table parameters of F. acarisuga were determined using eggs of the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae (Koch), as prey under laboratory conditions (26.7°C, 85% RH, and 14:10 [L:D] h). First-, second-, and third-instar F. acarisuga larvae consumed an average of 37.8, 60.4, and 87.2 T. urticae eggs per day, respectively. Larvae consumed a total of 185.4 eggs each from first to third instars, and female larvae consumed 201.2 spider mite eggs, 18.6% more than male larvae. Developmental time of F. acarisuga was 2.6, 7.8, and 7.0 d for eggs, larvae, and pupae, respectively, with an average of 17.4 d from oviposition to adult emergence. Female immatures developed slightly slower (~1 d) than males. Adult longevities of F. acarisuga averaged 13.0 d. After an average of 1.1-d preoviposition period, each female laid an average of 33.3 eggs during her lifespan. The intrinsic rate of natural population increase (r), net reproductive rates (R_o), gross reproductive rate (Σm_x), generation time (T), doubling time (DT), and the finite rate of increase (lambda) of F. acarisuga were estimated by life table analysis at 0.1155/d, 15.25 eggs per female, 21.69 eggs per female, 23.6 d, 6.0 d, and 1.1225/d, respectively. Because the r value of F. acarisuga is relatively lower than that of T. urticae, frequent release of F. acarisuga may be necessary to suppress populations of T. urticae.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Tong Xian Liu

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Tetranychus urticae
Feltiella acarisuga (predator)	Tetranychus urticae