Biology, life table and mating behavior of<i>Oligonychus perseae</i>(Acari: Tetranychidae)

Abstract

Abstact The biology of Oligonychus perseae Turtle, Baker and Abbatiello was studied at four different temperatures on excised Hass avocado leaves (Persea americana Mill). The time required for development from egg hatch to adult was: 34.89, 16.90, 13.87 and 9.81 days, at 15, 20, 25 and 30°C, respectively. The highest fecundity (45.80 eggs/female), occurred at 25°C, and the highest oviposition rate (1.84 eggs/female/day) was at 30°C. The highest mortality during development was 36.92% for the combined stages at 30°C. The theoretical lower threshold temperature for development was 7.80 and 9.00°C, for the combined stages of female and male, respectively. The thermal constant for completion of development was 200 and 166 day-degrees for the female and male, respectively. The sex ratio ranged from 1.82:1 to 2.39:1. The calculated intrinsic rate of increase was highest (0.1440) at 30 °C.The net reproductive rate was highest (25.80) at 25°C. The shortest mean generation time (18.38) occurred at 30°C.