Morphological and Developmental Studies for the Predatory Mite Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acarina: Phytoseiidae)

Abstract

The development of the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot was studied in the laboratory at 25° ± 2°C and 45-65% RH. The incubation period averaged 1.9 days. The larval stage or the deutonymphal stage averaged one day, while that of the protonymphal stage was 1.1 days. The total developmental period averaged 5.0 days. Mating took place shortly after maturation of the deutonymphs. The preoviposition period averaged 36 hours. The sex ratio was 2.8 females for each male. The eggs of the spider mite Tetranychus hydrangeae Pritchard and Baker was the main food used by the predatory mite to complete its development. The immature stages are newly described, while both the adult female and the adult male were rediscribed.