Life history parameters of a commercially available Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae) fed on cattail (Typha latifolia) pollen and tomato russet mite (Aculops lycopersici)

Development, oviposition, and survival of a commercially available predatory mite, Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot), were investigated to determine the life history parameters when they consumed a diet of cattail (Typha latifolia L.) pollen or tomato russet mites (Aculops lycopersici [Massee]) at 25 ± 0.5 °C and 70 ± 10% RH. Both diets were favorable for development, oviposition, and survival of A. swirskii. Amblyseius swirskii reared on mite prey showed improved performance as compared to pollen. Females laid a total of 26.8 and 38.1 eggs on the pollen and mite diets, respectively. The mortality of female A. swirskii was very low during the first 20 days on both diets, and the cumulative Weibull models that were used to describe age-specific survival and fecundity of female showed a good fit to the data. The net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (rm), and finite rate of increase (λ) of A. swirskii were higher on russet mites than when fed on the pollen diet due to their shorter immature development period and higher oviposition rate. The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) of the predatory mite was 0.185 and 0.201 on the pollen and mite diet, respectively. The mean generation time (T) and the population doubling time (Dt) were not significantly different for A. swirskii on the two diets. Our results provide life history information for a commercially available A. swirskii using two favorable diets and can be used to compare population growth under other diet sources.

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► The life history of A. swirskii on cattail pollen and tomato russet mite was examined.
► Both diets were favorable for development, oviposition, and survival of the mite.
► Overall, the better biological performance was shown by the russet mite diet.
► Females laid 26.8 and 38.1 eggs on the pollen and mite diets, respectively.
► Intrinsic rate of increase was 0.198 and 0.207 on the pollen and mite, respectively.