Experimental and Applied Acarology (2010) 52, 19-27

Lucy Kananu Murungi, Aggrey Nyende, John Wesonga, Peter Masinde and Markus Knapp (2010)
Effect of African nightshade species (Solanaceae) on developmental time and life table parameters of Tetranychus evansi (Acari: Tetranychidae)
Experimental and Applied Acarology 52 (1), 19-27
Abstract: The effect of five African nightshade (Solanum sp.) species on the biological and demographic parameters of the tomato spider mite, Tetranychus evansi Baker and Pritchard, was examined in the laboratory at 25 ± 1°C, 70-80% RH and 12L:12D photoperiod. Duration of each development stage, reproduction rate, longevity, intrinsic rate of natural increase (r _m), and doubling time (DT) of the tomato spider mite on the five nightshade species were calculated. The results indicated that S. villosum, S. scabrum, S. tarderemotum and S. americanum are more suitable for T. evansi due to a shorter developmental period, longer adult longevity, higher reproduction and intrinsic rate of natural increase ranging between 0.180 and 0.196 females/female/day compared with S. sarrachoides which cannot support T. evansi populations as the r _m (-0.063 females/female/day) and DT were negative on this host. Differences in developmental time and life table parameters among the other host plants were not significant.
(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): Markus Knapp

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Tetranychus evansi