Effects of Prey Switching at Different Stages on Life Parameters of Neoseiulus bicaudus

Zixin Nie, Li Zuo, Siqiong Tang, Chen Fang, Ying Ma, Xiang Li, Jianping Zhang () and Jie Su ()
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Zixin Nie: Key Laboratory of Oasis Agricultural Pest Management and Plant Protection Resources Utilization, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, College of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
Li Zuo: Key Laboratory of Oasis Agricultural Pest Management and Plant Protection Resources Utilization, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, College of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
Siqiong Tang: Key Laboratory of Oasis Agricultural Pest Management and Plant Protection Resources Utilization, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, College of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
Chen Fang: Key Laboratory of Oasis Agricultural Pest Management and Plant Protection Resources Utilization, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, College of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
Ying Ma: Key Laboratory of Oasis Agricultural Pest Management and Plant Protection Resources Utilization, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, College of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
Xiang Li: Key Laboratory of Oasis Agricultural Pest Management and Plant Protection Resources Utilization, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, College of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
Jianping Zhang: Key Laboratory of Oasis Agricultural Pest Management and Plant Protection Resources Utilization, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, College of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
Jie Su: Key Laboratory of Oasis Agricultural Pest Management and Plant Protection Resources Utilization, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, College of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-13

Abstract: The phenomenon of prey switching is prevalent in the natural world and represents a strategic adaptation of predators to their environment. Neoseiulus bicaudus , a native predatory mite found in Xinjiang, serves as a natural enemy to numerous small pests. The utilization of Tyrophagus putrescentiae as an alternative prey for the mass breeding of N. bicaudus is employed to fulfill the demands of enhanced breeding efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Following the introduction of mass breed N. bicaudus into the agricultural ecosystem, there was a switching in the prey of N. bicaudus from Ty. putrescentiae to Tetranychus turkestani . The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of prey switching at various stages on N. bicaudus . This study employed the age-stage, two-sex life table to assess the life parameters of N. bicaudus undergoing prey switching at different stages. The results showed that the survival rate of N. bicaudus was significantly decreased, the developmental period was significantly prolonged, the fecundity was improved during prey switching, and the intrinsic rate of increase of N. bicaudus was significantly decreased. The negative effects of prey switching in larva and deutonymph stages were greater than those in protonymph and adult stages. The stage and age of N. bicaudus undergoing prey switching were positively correlated with the male ratio, and negatively correlated with the total preoviposition period and the mean generation time. The comprehension of prey switching effects on N. bicaudus can enhance our understanding of the predator adaptation to environmental changes and contribute to the artificial rearing and application of natural enemy.

Keywords: age-stage; two-sex life table; Pearson correlation analysis; Phytoseiidae; prey switching (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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