Effect of different prey types and temperature on biological aspects of predatory mite Protogamasellus discorus (Acari : Gamasida : Ascidae)‎ with special references of chemical analysis of prey

Abstract EN

The predatory mite Protogamasellus discorus Manson (Acari: Gamasida: Ascidae) was isolated from soil under debris of palm trees at Giza Governorate and reared under laboratory conditions of (25 and 30°C) on bulb mite Rhizoglyphus robini Claparède (Acari: Astigmata: Acaridae), larvae of Musca domestica L.

(Diptera: Muscidae), free living nematode Rhabditella masculata and three species of fungi Fusarium oxysporium, Asperagillus niger and Pencilium notatum.

Obtained results showed that significant effects of different prey and temperature on biological aspects, fecundity and reproduction, whereas, life cycle duration lasted (9.9 and 9.4), (12.5 and 10), (10.7 and 9.4), (15.6 and 13.1), (10.9 and 9.6) and (9.2 and 8.8) days, when the predatory mite P.

discorus fed on the above mentioned diets at 25 and 30°C, respectively.

Female fecundity affected by temperatures and food types, where it is generally increased as temperature increased, also it being higher with free living nematodes (61.4 and 64.5) followed by R.

robini (59.6 and 62.0) and larvae of M.

domestica (32.3 and 36.5) eggs at 25 and 30°C, respectively, while, deposited eggs are very low with fungi, the rate of reproduction was greater at 25°C when mite fed on fungi and at 30°C on other prey where, the highest rate obtained with nematodes while the lowest with P.

notatum.

Chemical analysis of some prey showed that free living nematodes contain the highest percent of phosphorus (2.9%), so females deposited the highest number of eggs when it fed on nematodes than others.