Resource utilization pattern of two species of tetranychid mites (Acarina: Tetranychidae)

Abstract

Summary Life history and resource utilization pattern were compared between two closely related mite species of the genus Tetranychus . Tetranychus urticae developed more quickly and had a higher oviposition rate than T. kanzawai . Consequently, the potential for population increase was greater for T. urticae than for T. kanzawai but the difference was slight. T. urticae was more tolerant of a deteriorating food resource and/or over‐crowding. T. kanzawai responded more sensitively to food deterioration and dispersed more quickly. There was a considerable difference between injury patterns by the two species. T. kanzawai damaged host plants more severely, causing earlier and more extensive defoliation of the plants. The maximum population size achieved by T. urticae was 2 to 3 times greater than that of T. kanzawai on potted host plant. This showed that the former could utilize a food resource much more efficiently.