Environmental Entomology (2022) 51, 145-152

Shima Yazdanpanah, Yaghoub Fathipour, Elham Riahi and Myron P. Zalucki (2022)
Modeling temperature-dependent development rate of Neoseiulus cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae) fed on two alternative diets
Environmental Entomology 51 (1), 145-152
Abstract: Developmental time of the predatory mite Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) fed on cattail and almond pollen was determined under laboratory conditions at nine constant temperatures: 10, 15, 20, 25, 27, 30, 32, 35 and 38°C. No development was observed at 10°C. The lower temperature threshold (T₀) was estimated to be 10. 97 and 10. 29°C for the almond and cattail pollen, respectively, using the Ikemoto linear model. Thermal constant (K) for pre-adult development of N. cucumeris was 112.8 and 123.5 DD fed on almond and cattail pollen, respectively, using the Ikemoto linear model. The interaction between diet and temperature had a significant effect on the developmental rate of N. cucumeris. The nonlinear Pradhan-Taylor, Janisch/Kontodimas, Briere-1, and Janisch/Rochat models best described the developmental rate of pre-adult stages of N. cucumeris. The estimated Tfast by Pradhan-Taylor model was 31.9 and 33.9°C when fed on almond and cattail pollen, respectively, which was similar to the observed shortest developmental time at 32°C. Our results revealed that N. cucumeris could develop over a wide temperature range (15–35°C), which is a desirable characteristic for a biocontrol agent in biological control programs.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Yaghoub Fathipour, Myron P. Zalucki

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation
rearing/culturing/mass production

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Neoseiulus cucumeris (predator)