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Biology and life table of Oligonychus punicae Hirst (Trombidiformes: Tetranychidae) on three host plants

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Published/Copyright: November 29, 2024
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Florida Entomologist
From the journal Florida Entomologist Volume 107 Issue 1

Abstract

Avocado brown mite, Oligonychus punicae (Hirst) (Acari: Tetranychidae), causes significant damage to crops, such as avocado (Persea americana Mill. [Lauraceae]). To implement strategies for integrated management of O. punicae, it is necessary to understand its biology when it feeds on different hosts. Life tables of O. punicae on three host plants (P. americana cv. Hass, Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth [Fabaceae] and Rosa hybrida L. [Rosaceae]) were developed under laboratory conditions. The developmental time of immature females differed among the host plants tested and ranged from 10.09 days on P. americana cv. Hass to 12.78 days on R. hybrida. For immature males, it ranged from 10.08 days on P. americana cv. Hass to 12.80 days on R. hybrida. The highest total fecundity was recorded for P. americana cv. Hass (47.48 eggs/female) and was lowest for R. hybrida (21.12 eggs/female). The highest intrinsic rate of increase (r m ) of O. punicae was registered on P. americana cv. Hass (0.240 day−1) and was lowest on R. hybrida (0.156 day−1). The demographic parameters suggest that R. hybrida is a poor host for the development of O. punicae, and the best O. punicae performance was on P. americana cv. Hass.

Resumen

Oligonychus punicae (Hirst) (Acari: Tetranychidae), causa daños importantes a cultivos, tales como el cultivo del aguacate (Persea americana Mill. [Lauraceae]). Para implementar estrategias de manejo integrado de O. punicae, es necesario comprender mejor su biología cuando este ácaro se alimenta de diferentes plantas hospederas. Se desarrollaron tablas de vida de O. punicae sobre tres plantas hospederas (P. americana cv. Hass, Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth [Fabaceae] y Rosa hybrida L. [Rosaceae]) bajo condiciones de laboratorio. El período de desarrollo de las hembras inmaduras difirió entre las plantas hospederas probadas y éste osciló entre 10.09 días sobre P. americana cv. Hass a 12.78 días sobre R. hybrida. Para los machos inmaduros, osciló entre 10.08 días sobre P. americana cv. Hass a 12.80 días sobre R. hybrida. La tasa de fecundidad total más alta de O. punicae se registró sobre P. americana cv. Hass (47.48 huevos/hembra) y la más baja sobre R. hybrida (21.12 huevos/hembra). La mayor tasa intrínseca de incremento (r m ) de O. punicae se registró sobre P. americana cv. Hass (0.240 día−1) y la más baja cuando sobre R. hybrida (0.156 día−1). Los parámetros demográficos sugieren que R. hybrida es inadequada como planta hospedera para el desarrollo de O. punicae y el mejor rendimiento de O. punicae fue sobre P. americana cv. Hass.

Keywords: demographic parameters; avocado brown mite; avocado; roses; guamuchil; fecundity
Palabras Clave: parámetros demográficos; ácaro marrón del aguacate; palta; rosas; guamúchil; fecundidad

1 Introduction

Mexico is the main producer of avocado (Persea americana Miller [Lauraceae]) worldwide, producing 2,973,344 tons and getting an annual economic benefit of 60,097 million Mexican pesos. Around 86 % (US $2,811,580,882) of avocado exports (US $3,287 million) come from imports from the United States, making this country the largest consumer of Mexican-produced avocados (SAGARPA-SIAP 2024). The rose (Rosa hybrida L. [Rosaceae]) is the most popular flower worldwide for its color and beauty. In Mexico, 9,951 million rose bushes were harvested, achieving an economic income of 2,711 million Mexican pesos. The export of roses reached a value of US $10.3 million. The United States is the largest consumer, importing 99.0 % of Mexican-produced roses (SAGARPA-SIAP 2024). Guamuchil tree (Pithecellobium dulce [Roxb.] Benth [Fabaceae]) is found in Africa, Colombia, Cuba, United States, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. This plant is cultivated for different purposes, including food or fodder, for making adhesives, aromas, dyes, and medicines (Vargas-Madriz et al. 2020). Both the avocado tree, rose plant, and guamuchil tree have several arthropod pests, including Oligonychus spp. (Trombidiformes: Tetranychida) (Migeon and Dorkeld 2024).

Avocado brown mite, Oligonychus punicae (Hirst) (Trombidiformes: Tetranychidae) is an important pest in agricultural and forestry ecosystems (Fathipour and Maleknia 2016), feeding on more than 121 plant species, including avocado, rose and guamuchil (Migeon and Dorkeld 2024). O. punicae is an important pest of avocado in southern California (McMurtry and Johnson 1966) and Mexico (Cerna et al. 2009; Peña and Wysoki 2008). O. punicae feeds primarily on the upper surface of the leaf, but in high populations, this mite moves to the lower surface of the leaf to feed. Tetranychid mites such as O. punicae feed through their stylet. The stylet penetrates between epidermis pavement cells without damaging them or through stomatal openings. O. punicae feeds by ingesting and emptying the content of mesophyll cells, causing cell death (Bensoussan et al. 2016). High populations of O. punicae cause defoliation, leading to sunburn on fruit and fruit drop due to fruit set abortion, leading to low yields (Peña and Wysoki 2008). The main method to control O. punicae is chemical insecticides and acaricides (Peña and Wysoki 2008). However, O. punicae develops resistance to chemical insecticides very quickly due to its short life cycle and high fecundity (Cerna et al. 2009; Ferraz et al. 2020; Humeres and Morse 2005; Peña and Wysoki 2008). Therefore, more information on the biology of O. punicae is required to develop management strategies, such as its life tables parameters when mites feed on different host plants.

There are few studies on the biological parameters and life tables of O. punicae on different host plants (Cerna et al. 2009; Ferraz et al. 2020; Vásquez et al. 2008). Vásquez et al. (2008) studied the biology of O. punicae, on six grape cultivars (Vitis vinifera L. [Vitaceae]). Cerna et al. (2009) determined the demographic parameters, net reproductive rate (R 0), rate of natural increase (r m ), the mean generation (GT) and the finite rate of increase (λ) of O. punicae on three avocado varieties (Hass, Fuerte, and Criollo). Ferraz et al. (2020) determined development time, survival, longevity, fecundity, and developed life tables for O. punicae on six eucalyptus species (Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake, Eucalyptus brassiana S.T. Blake, Eucalyptus grandis M. Hill ex Maiden, Eucalyptus tereticorinis Sm., Eucalyptus pellita F. Muell., and Corymbia citriodora (Hook.) K.D. Hill & L.A.S. Johnson [Myrtaceae]) in a clonal mini-orchard. But so far, the life table parameters of O. punicae on rosa or guamuchil have not been reported.

Life table parameters have been used as a quantitative indicator to evaluate growth and behavior on different host plants and under various environmental conditions, thus showing the resistance or susceptibility of different plants or cultivars to O. punicae (Golizadeh et al. 2017; Uddin et al. 2015). On the other hand, knowing the life table parameters of the pest allows us to develop appropriate control strategies, with minimal use of pesticides, i.e., life tables allow us to know the most vulnerable time of a pest, that is, the moment in which the pest population suffers high mortality, so at that time we can make minimal applications of insecticides. In addition, life tables produce additional knowledge, such as the response to control agents, behavioral analysis, and mass breeding, among others (Herrero et al. 2018). The aim of this research was to assess the effect of three host plants (avocado, P. americana; guamuchil, P. dulce, and rose, R. hybrida on the biology and life tables of O. punicae. Because the avocado brown mite is an important pest in avocado crop, we hypothesized that O. punicae has a better biological performance on P. americana than on P. dulce and R. hybrida. The results of this research can be used to develop management and control strategies for avocado brown mite.

2 Materials and methods

2.1 Avocado brown mite rearing

Larvae, nymphs, and adults of O. punicae were collected from infested P. dulce leaves in an urban area (23.740000°N, 99.1659997°W, 329 m a.s.l.) in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico. O. punicae was identified using the taxonomic keys of Barker and Tuttle (1994) and Khanjani et al. (2018). O. punicae were reared on Michigan variety bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L. [Fabaceae]) grown in plastic pots (15 cm diameter × 10 cm height) under greenhouse conditions, 30 ± 2 °C, 70 ± 10 % relative humidity (RH) for 4 months (several generations) before carrying out the experiments. Bean plants were fertilized once a week with HUMIMAX (Agrofersa, Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico) (Humic substances derived from 12 % leonardite, 2 % soluble potassium, 0.5 % amino acids, 3 % manganese (Mn), 3 % iron (Fe), 1 % zinc (Zn), 0.5 % boron (B), and 78 % humectants, dispersants, and penetrants) at 2.5 ml per liter of water.

2.2 Host plants

For this study, we selected three host plants of avocado brown mite, i.e., P. americana, P. dulce, and R. hybrida, and these plants were grown under field conditions. Like the bean plants, the three host plants were fertilized once a week with HUMIMAX. We collected mature leaves from each host plant. These leaves did not show any damage or symptoms of the presence of fungi or bacteria. Leaves were transported in 25 × 25 cm resealable plastic bags inside a cooler with a frozen gel pack at a temperature of 5 ± 2 °C to the laboratory. The time to transport the leaves to the laboratory was around 15 min. In the laboratory, we washed the leaves for 2 min with a 1.5 % sodium hypochlorite solution. Leaves were dried at room temperature and cut into 4 cm2 squares.

2.3 Immature development and performance of adults

To obtain eggs of a uniform age for experiments, we used the methodologies of Gotoh and Gomi (2003) and Uddin et al. (2015) in a rearing chamber (Lumistell, Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico) at 28 ± 1 °C, 70–80 % RH and a 12:12 h (L:D) photoperiod. We randomly selected one newly emerged adult female and one adult male from the O. punicae colony, and they were both placed on the leaf squares of each host plant with a fine camel-hair brush. With the help of a sterile scalpel, 4 cm2 were cut from each leaf. We placed the leaves with the upper surface of the leaf facing upwards on water-saturated cotton in a 5 cm diameter Petri dish. We let the female and male mate for a period of 10 h. During this period, the females laid eggs, and only a single egg was left on each leaf square after removing females, males, and excess eggs.

To ensure the freshness of the leaf squares of each host plant, individuals were transferred to new leaf squares after 3 days for R. hybrida, after 4 days for P. dulce and after 5 days for P. americana. Observations were carried out twice a day with the help of a binocular microscope (UNICO Stereo & Zoom Microscopes ZM180, Dayton, New Jersey, USA). The development and survival time of larvae, protonymphs, deutonymphs, and sex ratio (% females) were recorded for each host plant. Sex was determined upon adulthood, i.e., after observing the development of the egg, larva, protochrysalis, protonymph, deutochrysalis, deutronymph, and teliochrysalis, we recorded the number of O. punicae females and males that reached the adult stage.

2.4 Oviposition and life table parameters

Twenty-five recently emerged O. punicae females from the study of development of immature mites were each supplied with two adult males, one from the study and another from the colony, to ensure mating. We removed the adult males after 24 h. The females and males were reared on the same leaf square of each host plant. Females that died due to improper handling, drowning, or becoming entangled in the cotton thread were excluded from data analyses. Eggs laid by a female were recorded daily until her death. As the leaf square aged, mites were transferred to new leaf squares. To estimate the pre-oviposition, oviposition, and post-oviposition period, the total number of eggs laid per female, the eggs laid per female per day, and female longevity of 25 O. punicae females were recorded. Observations on egg laying were made twice daily until female death (Gotoh and Gomi 2003; Uddin et al. 2015).

We used the daily age-specific survival rate (lx ) and age-specific fecundity (m x ) to generate life tables for O. punicae on P. americana, P. dulce, and R. hybrida. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r m ) was estimated from the fertility table according to the equation given by Birch (1948) and Carey (1993): ∑e−rx l x m x  = 1. We calculated the gross reproductive rate (GGR = ∑ m x ), net reproductive rate (R 0 = ∑l x m x ), the mean generation time (GT = lnR 0/r m ), the finite rate of increase (λ = e rm ) and the doubling time (DT = ln2/r m ) based on equations provided by Birch (1948) and Carey (1993).

2.5 Statistical analyses

Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) to test differences between host plants was used in terms of development time of immature stages (egg, larva, protochrysalis, protonymph, deutochrysalis, and deutonymph, teliochrysalis periods, and total development time), and adult female biology (pre- and post-oviposition period, oviposition period, and female longevity). Furthermore, we used multiple (pairwise) comparisons using Tukey’s HSD (p < 0.05) to separate host plants according to these parameters. Additionally, we estimated the degree of association between sex and host plants.

The Jackknife non-parametric method was applied to obtain pseudo-values for each demographic parameter (GRR, r m , R 0, GT, λ and DT), and the mean and standard error were estimated (Maia et al. 2000; Meyer et al. 1986). These parameters were evaluated using one-way ANOVA, and means were separated by the Tukey HSD test (p < 0.05). The R-project program was used for all the analyses (R Core Team R. 2023).

3 Results

The development time of the immature stages of O. punicae females showed differences between the host plants (MANOVA, Wilks test = 0.2032; F = 20.256; df = 2, 140; p < 0.0001). The development time of immature stages such as egg, larva, protochrysalis, protonymph, deutochrysalis, and deutonymph of females differed significantly among the host plants tested (p < 0.0001; Table 1). However, the teliochrysalis period did not differ significantly between host plants (p > 0.05). O. punicae females developed faster on P. americana (10.09 days) than on P. dulce (11.35 days) and R. hybrida (12.7879 days) (Table 1).

Table 1:

Developmental duration (mean days ± SE) from egg to adult of Oligonychus punicae females fed on three host plants at 28 ± 1 °C and 70–80 % RH with a photoperiod of 12L:12D photoperiod.

Host N Stage
Eggs Larva Protochrysalis Protonymph Deutochrysalis Deutonymph Teliochrysalis Egg–Adult
Persea americana 66 4.25 ± 0.36da 1.28 ± 0.30d 0.70 ± 0.24d 1.12 ± 0.21d 0.70 ± 0.24c 1.20 ± 0.24c 0.84 ± 0.23b 10.09 ± 0.79d
Pithecellobium dulce 60 4.61 ± 0.71c 1.50 ± 0.31c 0.80 ± 0.24c 1.34 ± 0.31c 0.89 ± 0.22b 1.34 ± 0.32b 0.89 ± 0.20b 11.35 ± 0.86c
Rosa hybrida 58 5.03 ± 0.51b 1.85 ± 0.32b 0.94 ± 0.21b 1.73 ± 0.27b 0.91 ± 0.19b 1.35 ± 0.25b 0.90 ± 0.26b 12.78 ± 0.73b

  1. aWithin columns, different letters indicate significance differences among host plants (Tukey HSD test: p < 0.05).

For total developmental duration of O. punicae males (from egg to adult emergence), multivariate analysis of variance showed significant differences among host plants (MANOVA, Wilks test = 0.12984; F = 8.6542; df = 2, 46; p < 0.0001, Table 2); the mean development time of the egg (5.05 days), larval (1.86 days), protochrysalis (0.94 days), and protonymph (1.73 days) were longer on R. hybrida than P. dulce and P. americana. However, the mean deutonymph and teliochrysalis time of O. punicae was similar when fed on R. hybrida (1.35 and 0.92 days), P. dulce (1.36 and 0.88 days) and P. americana (1.21 and 0.86 days). Male mites developed faster on P. americana (10.08 days) than on P. dulce (11.50 days) and R. hybrida (12.80 days) (Table 2).

Table 2:

Developmental duration (mean days ± SE) from egg to adult of Oligonychus punicae males fed on three host plants at 28 ± 1 °C and 70–80 % RH with a photoperiod of 12L:12D photoperiod.

Host N Stage
Eggs Larva Protochrysalis Protonymph Deutochrysalis Deutonymph Teliochrysalis Egg–Adult
Persea americana 22 4.18 ± 0.24da 1.30 ± 0.29d 0.70 ± 0.25c 1.25 ± 0.22d 0.68 ± 0.24c 1.21 ± 0.25b 0.86 ± 0.23b 10.08 ± 0.77d
Pithecellobium dulce 24 4.66 ± 0.74c 1.50 ± 0.30c 0.81 ± 0.24c 1.35 ± 0.23c 0.87 ± 0.22b 1.36 ± 0.36b 0.88 ± 0.21b 11.50 ± 0.98c
Rosa hybrida 23 5.05 ± 0.39b 1.86 ± 0.28c 0.94 ± 0.16b 1.73 ± 0.25b 0.90 ± 0.20b 1.35 ± 0.23b 0.92 ± 0.27b 12.80 ± 0.59b

  1. aWithin columns, different letters indicate significance differences among host plants (Tukey HSD test: p < 0.05).

In this study, for both sexes, the survival of O. punicae showed that mites successfully developed on P. americana, P. dulce, and R. hybrida. The egg-to-adult survival of O. punicae females (Table 3) ranged from 66.52 on roses to 93.94 % on avocado, but there were no significant differences among the host plants (Table 3). The survival of males did not differ significantly among host plants (Table 4). The survival of O. punicae on P. americana was highest at 81.82 %. Highest mortality was recorded in the egg stage on R. hybrida.

Table 3:

Hatchability and survival of immature stages, and sex ratio of Oligonychus punicae females on three host plants.

Host Plant Hatchability (%) Survival of Larvae (%) Survival of Protonymph (%) Survival of Deutonymph (%) Survival (Egg to Adult) (%) Sex Ratio (% Female)
Persea americana 98.48 98.36 100.00 100.00 93.94 77.50
Pithecellobium dulce 96.67 94.83 98.15 96.15 80.00 72.73
Rosa hybrida 91.38 90.57 88.89 89.74 66.52 73.33
X2 (gl = 2) 0.2850 0.3217 0.7406 0.5637 4.6906 0.1811
P 0.8672 0.8514 0.6905 0.7544 0.0958 0.9134
Table 4:

Hatch and survival of immature stages of Oligonychus punicae males on three host plants.

Host Plant Larval Hatch (%) Survival of Larvae (%) Survival of Protonymph (%) Survival of Deutonymph (%) Survival (Egg to Adult) (%)
Persea americana 100.00 95.45 100.00 100.00 81.82
Pithecellobium dulce 100.00 91.67 95.24 95.15 75.00
Rosa hybrida 86.96 95.00 94.44 87.50 66.62
X2 (gl = 2) 1.1851 0.0906 0.1871 0.8430 1.5565
P 0.5529 0.9557 0.9107 0.6560 0.4592

3.1 Sex ratio

Pearson’s association test did not show a significant relationship between sex and host plants (χ2 = 0.9611; df = 2; P = 0.6184). The sex ratio (% female) varied from 72.33 in P. dulce to 77.73 in P. americana. However, this was statistically similar among P. americana, P. dulce, and R. hybrida (χ2 = 0.1811, df = 2, p = 0.9134). The sex ratio was always female-biased.

3.2 Adult longevity and oviposition

The pre-oviposition, oviposition, and post-oviposition period, as well as the longevity and fecundity of adult females of O. punicae, were affected by host plant species (MANOVA, Wilks test = 0.14032; F = 28.8, df = 2, 72; p < 0.0001; Table 5). The pre-oviposition period (1.64 days) and oviposition period (18.32 days) of O. punicae were longest on R. hybrida and shortest on P. americana (1.36 and 15.32 days, respectively). Meanwhile, the post-oviposition period of O. punicae females was longer on P. dulce (1.78 days) and shorter on P. americana (1.44 days). Furthermore, host plant (p < 0.0001; Table 5) affected the longevity, fecundity, and number of eggs laid per day of O. punicae females. Female longevity was lower on P. americana (18.28 days) and higher on R. hybrida (21.48 days) (p < 0.0001; Table 5). Total fecundity was higher on P. americana (47.48 eggs/female) than on the other host plants (p < 0.0001; Table 5). The number of eggs laid per day by females was greater on P. americana (2.25 eggs/female/day) than on P. dulce (1.95 eggs/female/day) and R. hybrida (1.53 eggs/female/day) (p < 0.0001; Table 5).

Table 5:

Reproduction parameters and adult longevity (mean ± SE) of Oligonychus punicae females on three host plants.

Host Plant Pre-Oviposition Oviposition Post-Oviposition Eggs/Female Egg/♀/Day Longevity
P ersea  americana 1.36 ± 0.31ca 15.32 ± 1.18d 1.44 ± 0.16d 47.48 ± 1.94b 2.25 ± 0.09b 18.28 ± 1.02b
Pithecellobium  dulce 1.44 ± 0.30c 17.04 ± 0.94c 1.78 ± 0.25b 28.94 ± 1.18c 1.95 ± 0.05c 20.32 ± 1.31c
Rosa hybrida 1.64 ± 0.27b 18.32 ± 1.06b 1.62 ± 0.21c 21.12 ± 1.06d 1.53 ± 0.06d 21.48 ± 0.87b

  1. aWithin columns, different letters indicate significance differences among host plants (Tukey HSD test: p < 0.05).

3.3 Demographic parameters

The demographic parameters (GRR, R 0 , r m , GT, λ, and DT) of O. punicae were affected by the host plants (GRR: F = 261; df = 2, 46; p < 0.0001; R 0 : F = 929.3; df = 2, 46; p < 0.0001; r m : F = 1,614; df = 2, 46; p < 0.0001; GT: F = 748.1; df = 2, 46; p < 0.0001; λ: F = 1,613; df = 2, 46; p < 0.0001; and DT: F = 1,364; df = 2, 46; p < 0.0001; Table 6). The GRR of O. punicae differed significantly between host plants and was highest on P. americana (33.46) and P. dulce (33.14) and lowest on R. hybrida (25.99). R 0 values of O. punicae were significantly higher on P. americana than on P. dulce and R. hybrida. In comparison, GT values were significantly longer on R. hybrida than on P. dulce and P. americana. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r m ) of O. punicae was greater in P. americana than on P. dulce and R. hybrida. The highest and lowest DT values were observed on R. hybrida (2.561) and P. americana (1.774), respectively (Table 6).

Table 6:

Demographic parameters of Oligonychus punicae on three host plants.

Host Plants GRR (Eggs/Female) R 0 (Eggs/Female) GT (Days) r m (Day−1) DT (Days) λ (Day−1)
Persea americana 33.46 ± 1.17ba 30.682 ± 1.09b 14.292 ± 0.22d 0.240 ± 0.01b 2.893 ± 0.05d 1.271 ± 0.01b
Pithecellobium  dulce 33.14 ± 0.78b 19.680 ± 0.67c 15.877 ± 0.21c 0.188 ± 0.01c 3.693 ± 0.07c 1.206 ± 0.01c
Rosa hybrida 25.99 ± 0.96c 14.360 ± 0.75d 17.034 ± 0.19b 0.156 ± 0.01d 4.431 ± 0.10b 1.169 ± 0.00d

  1. r m , the intrinsic rate of natural increase; GGR, gross reproductive rate; R 0 , net reproductive rate; GT, the mean generation time; λ, the finite rate of increase; DT, doubling time. aWithin columns, different letters indicate significance differences among host plants (Tukey HSD test: p < 0.05).

4 Discussion

This study showed that O. punicae survives and develops on P. americana, P. dulce, and R. hybrida, and that host plant type can affect avocado brown mite development, fecundity, and demographic parameters. This study showed that the duration of immature development of O. punicae females and males varied from 10.09 to 12.78 and 10.08 to 12.80 days, respectively, which were greater than those reported by Cerna et al. (2009) and Vásquez et al. (2008), but similar to those reported by Ferraz et al. (2020). Cerna et al. (2009) reported that the mean duration of development from egg to adult emergence of O. punicae was 7.74, 7.78, and 9.54 days on the Fuerte, Hass, and Criollo avocado varieties at 24 ± 2 °C, 60–65 % relative humidity and 12:12 (light: dark). Similarly, Vásquez et al. (2008) documented a life cycle ranging from 8.16 (Tucupita) to 9.05 (Sirah) days on different grape cultivars at 27 ± 2 °C, 80 ± 10 % RH and a photoperiod of 12:12 h. In contrast, Ferraz et al. (2020) reported a period from egg to adult emergence similiar to that reported in this study. They found that the mean development time of immature stages of O. punicae ranged from 10.92 (E. tereticornis) to 12.25 (E. brassiana) days on different eucalyptus species at 25 ± 2 °C, 70 ± 10 % RH, and 12 h of photoperiod. This variation may be due to temperature and host plants. Temperature (Abou-Awad et al. 2011; Al-Jboory and Al-Suaide 2010; Aponte and McMurtry 1997; Orozco-Hoyos et al. 1990) and host plant species (Chaaban et al. 2012; Roknuzzaman et al. 2021; Yao et al. 2019) exert a significant effect on all developmental stages of Oligonychus spp.

In this study, the survival trend for O. punicae females and males was related to the host plants as follows: P. americana > P. dulce > R. hybrida. Although the survival of O. punicae females and males were higher on P. americana (93.94 and 81.82 %) than on P. dulce (80 and 75 %) and R. hybrida (66.52 and 66.62 %), this did not differ significantly among host plants. Cerna et al. (2009) reported a survival of 75, 80, and 85 % for O. punicae (female and male) when mites were fed on three avocado varieties (Criollo, Fuerte, and Hass, respectively). Yao et al. (2019) reported significant differences in egg-to-adult survival of Oligonychus litchii Lo & Ho (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae) on different litchi cultivars (Litchi chinensis Sonn [Sapindaceae]). These authors reported a higher percentage of survival of immature stage O. litchii on the Nuomici cultivar (68.42 %) than on the Sanyuehong (60.25 %), Feizixiao (23.91) and Baili (21.74 %) cultivars at 25 ± 1 °C, 65–80 % RH, and a photoperiod of 14:10 h (L:D). Reyes-Bello et al. (2011) documented a 53 % survival of Oligonychus yothersi McGregor (Acari: Tetranychidae) when mites fed on P. americana cv. Lorraine at 26 ± 3 °C and 56 ± 3 % RH. Chaaban et al. (2012) found the survival of immature Oligonychus afrasiaticus (McGregor) ranged between 81 and 94 % on different host plants [Phoenix dactylifera L. [Arecaceae] (varieties: Deglet Noor (94 %), Alig (86 %), Kentichi (81 %), Besser (83 %), Deglet Noor pinnae (81 %)), and leaves of Sorghum sp (86 %))] at 27 ± 1 °C, 60 ± 10 % RH, and a photoperiod of 16:8 h (L:O).

In this study, the sex ratio of avocado brown mite was skewed toward females, which impacted the O. punicae r m as we observed that the highest percentage of females when mites fed on P. americana and consequently, O. punicae rm was higher on the same host plant. Tamura and Ito (2017) mentioned that O. punicae and Oligonychus perseae Tuttle, Baker & Abbatiello have a life type called woven nest (WN). These mites build silk nests on the undersurface of the leaves (Saito 2010), where these mites reproduce and develop (Tamura and Ito 2017) and help adapt to host plants and avoid predators (Tamura and Ito 2017). Tamura and Ito (2017) mentioned that the bias towards females in the sex ratio is related to the WN life type. In the literature review, we found that the sex ratio of other Oligonychus species presented a bias towards females. Oligonychus coffeae (Nietner) showed a proportion of females of 73.6, 76.0 and 68.5 % at 20, 25, and 30 °C when the mites fed on tea, Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze (Theaceae) (Gotoh and Nagata 2001).

P. americana, P. dulce, and R. hybrida significantly affected the total fecundity and daily oviposition of O. punicae females. The daily fecundity of O. punicae was significantly higher on P. americana (2.25 ± 0.09) than on P. dulce (1.95 ± 0.05) and R. hybrida (1.53 ± 0.06). Cerna et al. (2009) reported that the fecundity of O. punicae was 5.50 (±0.2), 4.92 (±0.4), and 4.62 (±0.7) eggs on the Hass, Fuerte, and Criollo avocado varieties, respectively, which are greater than that reported in this study. In the same way, Vásquez et al. (2008) reported differences in the mean number of O. punicae eggs laid per female when fed on grape leaves of the variety Tucupita (2.82 ± 2.42) than when fed of Red Globe (2.72 ± 1.91), Chenin Blanc (2.16 ± 1.99), Sauvignon (2.15 ± 1.41), Villanueva (1.79 ± 0.94), and Sirah (0.94 ± 0.95). Ferraz et al. (2020) documented that the total fecundity of O. punicae laid per female on E. tereticornis (44.75 ± 22.89) was higher than on E. grandis (22.80 ± 11.09), E. brassina (18.44 ± 8.99), E. pillita (13.35 ± 9.11), E. urophylla (8.45 ± 4.40) and C. citriodora (5.45 ± 3.71).

These variations can be attributed to biotic and abiotic factors, e.g., for biotic factors the differences amongst Oligonychus species, strains, and host plant species and varieties in the biotics. For abiotic factors, experimental conditions (temperature, humidity, and photoperiod), observation time intervals, geographic location where the species were collected, and the adaptation of the species or strains of Oligonychus to local climate and host plant, and rearing and management methods affect the performance of the Oligonuchus species and their biological parameters (Roknuzzaman et al. 2021).

The type of host plant (species or variety of the host plant) affects the development period, survival, fecundity, and life table parameters of tetranychid mites. The nutritional characteristics of the host plants are key to the fecundity of phytophagous mites, which affects their reproductive strategies, which ultimately affect life history parameters (Roknuzzaman et al. 2021).

The life table parameters (GRR, R 0 , r m , λ, GT, and DT) of O. punicae were significantly affected by the host plants. In this study, the r m value was highest for O. punicae when it fed on P. americana (0.240 day−1) compared to when it fed on P. dulce (0.188 day−1) and R. hybrida (0.156 day−1). Li (1995) documented that arthropods of high r m have short generation time, as in this study (Table 5). Oligonychus species demographic parameters are affected by the host plant and/or cultivar, which affects susceptibility to infestation and damage because of population growth levels (Abou-Awad et al. 2011; Cerna et al. 2009; Chaaban et al. 2012; Ferraz et al. 2020; Rioja et al. 2019; Roknuzzaman et al. 2021; Vásquez et al. 2008; Yao et al. 2019).

There are discrepancies in the r m values of O. punicae in the three host plants. In this regard, Uddin et al. (2015) and Roknuzzaman et al. (2021) mentioned that these discrepancies may be due to nutritional quality, chemical composition, host plant texture, host plant physiology, leaf morphology, and different experimental conditions. These host plant characteristics affect the survival, developmental period, and fecundity of tetranychid mites and consequently affect the demographic parameters such as the intrinsic rate of increase. Hence, r m adequately summarizes the physiological qualities of a pest arthropod in relation to its capacity to increase (Golizadeh et al. 2017).

In conclusion, P. americana was the most susceptible host plant, and P. dulce and R. hybrida were the most resistant host plants since O. punicae showed a shorter developmental period from egg to adult emergence, the higher rate of survival and fecundity and the fastest intrinsic rate of increase on P. americana compared to P. dulce and R. hybrida. The suitable qualities of host plants for the avocado brown mite are an important factor to consider when developing and planning O. punicae integrated pest management programs. For example, the short development period from egg to adult of O. punicae provides information about the mite’s high performance on this host plant. Furthermore, spider mites with short generation times have a high finite rate of increase. This causes the arthropod to develop resistance to synthetic pesticides more quickly than arthropods with a longer generation time. More studies are required, including evaluating the effect of host plants’ nutritional quality, chemical composition, texture, physiology, morphology, and different experimental conditions on the biological and demographic parameters of O. punicae.

Corresponding author: Julio César Chacón-Hernández, Faculty of Engineering and Sciences, Autonomous University of Tamaulipas, Victoria City, 87120, Mexico, E-mail:

Acknowledgments

The authors highly acknowledge the support of the Faculty of Engineering and Sciences of the Autonomous University of Tamaulipas, Tamaulipas, Mexico for providing the facilities to complete the research.

  1. Research ethics: Not applicable.

  2. Informed consent: Not applicable.

  3. Author contributions: The authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.

  4. Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.

  5. Conflict of interest: The authors state no conflict of interest.

  6. Research funding: None declared.

  7. Data availability: The raw data can be obtained on request from the corresponding author.

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Received: 2023-12-22
Accepted: 2024-08-27
Published Online: 2024-11-29

© 2024 the author(s), published by De Gruyter on behalf of the Florida Entomological Society

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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https://doi.org/10.1515/flaent-2023-0002
Keywords for this article
demographic parameters; avocado brown mite; avocado; roses; guamuchil; fecundity
Creative Commons
BY 4.0

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  1. Frontmatter
  2. Research Articles
  3. Distribution and dispersal of adult spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae), in organically grown strawberries in Florida
  4. A comparison of the capture of non-target arthropods between control methods and monitoring traps of Anastrepha ludens in citrus agroecosystems
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  9. Rearing Neoseiulus cucumeris and Amblyseius swirskii (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) on non-target species reduces their predation efficacy on target species
  10. Response of male Bactrocera zonata (Diptera: Tephritidae) to methyl eugenol: can they be desensitized?
  11. Monitoring of coccinellid (Coleoptera) presence and syrphid (Diptera) species diversity and abundance in southern California citrus orchards: implications for conservation biological control of Asian citrus psyllid and other citrus pests
  12. Topical treatment of adult house flies, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), with Beauveria bassiana in combination with three entomopathogenic bacteria
  13. Laboratory evaluation of 15 entomopathogenic fungal spore formulations on the mortality of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae), related drosophilids, and honeybees
  14. Effect of diatomaceous earth on diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), larval feeding and survival on cabbage
  15. Bioactivity of seed extracts from different genotypes of Jatropha curcas (Euphorbiaceae) against Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
  16. Assessment of sugarberry as a host tree of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in southeastern USA agroecosystems
  17. The importance of multigeneration host specificity testing: rejection of a potential biocontrol agent of Nymphaea mexicana (Nymphaeaceae) in South Africa
  18. Endophytic potential of entomopathogenic fungi associated with Urochloa ruziziensis (Poaceae) for spittlebug (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) control
  19. The first complete mitogenome sequence of a biological control agent, Pseudophilothrips ichini (Hood) (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae)
  20. Exploring the potential of Delphastus davidsoni (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in the biological control of Bemisia tabaci MEAM 1 (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)
  21. Behavioral responses of Ixodiphagus hookeri (Hymenoptera; Encyrtidae) to Rhipicephalus sanguineus nymphs (Ixodida: Ixodidae) and dog hair volatiles
  22. Illustrating the current geographic distribution of Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) in Campeche, Mexico: a maximum entropy modeling approach
  23. New records of Clusiidae (Diptera: Schizophora), including three species new to North America
  24. Photuris mcavoyi (Coleoptera: Lampyridae): a new firefly from Delaware interdunal wetlands
  25. Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) diversity and synanthropy in a protected natural area and its influence zone in western Mexico
  26. Temperature-dependent development and life tables of Palpita unionalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)
  27. Orchid bee collects herbicide that mimics the fragrance of its orchid mutualists
  28. Importance of wildflowers in Orius insidiosus (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) diet
  29. Bee diversity and abundance in perennial irrigated crops and adjacent habitats in central Washington state
  30. Comparison of home-made and commercial baits for trapping Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in blueberry crops
  31. Miscellaneous
  32. Dr. Charles W. O’Brien: True Pioneer in Weevil Taxonomy and Publisher
  33. Scientific Notes
  34. Nests and resin sources (including propolis) of the naturalized orchid bee Euglossa dilemma (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Florida
  35. Impact of laurel wilt on the avocado germplasm collection at the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Subtropical Horticulture Research Station
  36. Monitoring adult Delia platura (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) in New York State corn fields using blue and yellow sticky cards
  37. New distribution records and host plants of two species of Hypothenemus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in mangrove ecosystems of Tamaulipas, Mexico
  38. First record of Trichogramma pretiosum parasitizing Iridopsis panopla eggs in eucalyptus in Brazil
  39. Spodoptera cosmioides (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) as an alternative host for mass rearing the parasitoid Palmistichus elaeisis (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)
  40. Effects of biochar on ambrosia beetle attacks on redbud and pecan container trees
  41. First report of Diatraea impersonatella (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) on sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) in Honduras
  42. Book Reviews
  43. Kratzer, C. A.: The Cicadas of North America
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