Life Tables of Tetranychus Cinnabarinus (Acari: Tetranychidae) On Three Varieties Of Muskmelon, Cucumis Melo

Abstract

The carmine spider mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus , is considered a polyphagous and very damaging pest worldwide. Developmental times, reproductive rates, and population growth parameters of T. cinnabarinus were evaluated on three muskmelon varieties (Cantaloupe, Galia, and Honeydew) under experimental conditions (28 ±1°C, 56±4% RH and 14:10 L:D). The developmental time of immature stages varied from 10.7 on Galia to 12.9 days on Honeydew. Immature survival was 74 and 92% on Galia and Cantaloupe, respectively. On average, there were 61, 48 y 47 eggs produced per female on Cantaloupe, Honeydew y Galia, respectively. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r m ), net reproductive rate (R o ), generation time (T) and finite rate of increase (λ) for carmine spider mite, indicated significant differences among tested varieties (P<0.05). The values for r m and R o were 0.22 and 29 for Galia, 0.20 and 45 for Cantaloupe and 0.19 and 32 for Honeydew, respectively. The results indicate that Honeydew was least suitable for T. cinnabarinus population growth. This differential suitability is an important factor to consider and could be used in IPM strategies.