Life table parameters and development of Neoseiulus longispinosus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) reared on citrus red mite, Panonychus citri(Acari: Tetranychidae) at different temperatures

Development time, survival, reproduction, and sex ratio were determined for the predatory mite Neoseiulus longispinosus (Evans) at six constant temperatures (20, 25, 27.5, 30, 32.5 and 35 degrees C) reared on citrus red spider mite Panonychus citri (McGregor). No predatory mite reached adulthood at 35 degrees C. All female and male immature stages of N. longispinosus developed significantly faster as the temperature increased from 20 to 30 degrees C, but development slowed down as the temperature exceeded 30 degrees C. The mean total developmental time of females was longest at 20 degrees C (9.73 days), followed by 25 degrees C (5.67 days), 27.5 degrees C (4.46 days), and 32.5 degrees C (4.55 days) and was shortest at 30 degrees C (3.69 days). The oviposition rate and lifetime fecundity were highest at 27.5 degrees C (2.80 eggs/female/day and 43.76 eggs/female, respectively) and lowest at 20 degrees C (0.78 eggs/female/day and 21.64 eggs/female, respectively). However, temperature had no influence on the sex ratio of offspring with the proportion of females ranging from 0.62 to 0.65. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) of N. longispinosus averaged 0.323, 0.303, 0.267, 0.189 and 0.107 females female(-1) day(-1) at 30, 27.5, 32.5, 25, and 20 degrees C, respectively. These values suggested that the most optimal temperatures for the population growth of N. longispinosus were between 27.5 and 30 degrees C.