Effect of different soil fungi on biological aspects of the oribatid mite Nothrus silvestris (Acari : Oribatida)‎ in the laboratory

Abstract EN

Nothrus silvestris Nicolet (Acari: Oribatida: Nothridae) is a beneficial soil mite, considered as fungivorous grazer feeding on different kinds of soil fungi.

In the present study, the feeding and reproductive biology of N.

silvestris were recorded.

Mites reared on nine different species of fungi isolated from tested soil under laboratory conditions in preequipped rearing vials.

Data obtained showed that, N.

silvestris preferred feeding on Rhizoctonia solani and Alternaria alternate.

Fusarium oxisporium showed intermediate preferences, while rejected the other tested fungi as food items.

Duration of development of N.

silvestris extended to eight months when fed on young cultures of R.

solani fungus, the average life span of adults reared on R.

solani was 220.51±0.09.

The longevity of females' N.

silvestris was 145 days.

All mites used in this experiment laid eggs, indicating that N.

silvestris is thelytokous.