Demographic parameters of Phyllocoptes adalius (Acari: Eriophyoidea) and influence of insemination on female fecundity and longevity

The biology of Phyllocoptes adalius Keifer (Acari: Eriophyoidea) and influence of insemination on female fecundity and longevity were studied. The experiment was conducted at a constant temperature of 25 ± 0.5 °C, 70–80 % RH and 16-h photoperiod. A modified method of mite rearing on detached leaves in closed cells was successfully applied and demonstrated to be efficient for biological studies of eriophyoids. Survival and development duration of the immature stages, as well as fecundity of female and longevity of adults, were calculated. The longest time of development was observed for eggs, which was almost twice as long as that for larvae and nymphs. Egg-to-adult development did not significantly differ between males and females. Survival rate for the immature stages was highest for nymphs (98.2 %), exceeding 86.2 % for overall pre-adult stages. Life table parameters of P. adalius were estimated as follows: mean generation time (T), 15.8 days; doubling time (Dt), 3.3 days; net reproductive rate (R (0)), 27.8 female eggs/female; the intrinsic rate of natural increase (r (m)), 0.21 female eggs/female/day; the finite rate of increase (λ), 1.23 female eggs/female/day; and sex ratio (proportion females), 0.82. Our studies indicate that P. adalius has the potential for rapid population increase, becoming one of the most important rose mite species.