امیدبه‌زندگی و بقای کنه شکارگر Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae) با تغذیه از Eotetranychus frosti (Tetranychidae) و Cenopalpus irani (Tenuipalpidae)

Eotetranychus frosti (McGregor) and Cenopalpus irani Dosse are of the important pests of apple trees that widely distributed in apple orchards of Iran. The predatory mite, Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot is an omnivorous predator that used as an efficient biological control agent against pests. The life expectancy, stable stage distribution, life table entropy and survival rate of A. swirskii feeding on E. frosti or C. irani were determined at 25±1°C, 60±10% relative humidity (RH) and a photoperiod of 16:8 (light : dark) h on apple leaves. In each prey to determine of above mentioned parameters, a cohort consisting of 60 same-aged eggs was used. The mated females were transferred to 60 new experimental units, and after 12 h the females and surplus eggs were removed; only one egg remained in each unit and monitored the survival rate. To determine the life expectancy and the survival rate of A. swirskii, inspections were carried out daily under a stereomicroscope. The results showed that different diets had a significant effect on the life expectancy (ex). The value of this parameter of A. swirskii from the first day of life were about 31 and 24 days, and at the beginning of adult emergence were 29 and 22 days on E. frosti and C. irani, respectively. The stable stage distribution percentage in all stages was the highest at egg stage. This parameter at egg stage of A. swirskii on E. frosti and C. irani, was recorded as 39.72 % and 35 %, respectively. According to the results, the highest survival rates at the beginning of adult emergence were 0.85 and 0.73 on E. frosti and C. irani, respectively. The estimated H parameter showed that the survival schedules of A. swirskii on E. frosti is type I (H < 0.5) and on C. irani is type III (H > 0.5). The results of this research can be useful in the field of biological control of these pests.