دانه گرده گلسرخیان، غذای جایگزین مناسب برای رشد جمعیت کنه شکارگر Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

The predatory mite, Amblyseius swirskii, is a highly successful biological control agent in greenhouses and fields. The wide range of hosts and the ability to feed on various plant materials, including pollen grains, cause this generalist predator’s rapid establishment and proper efficiency. In the present study, life table parameters of A. swirskii during feeding on the pollen of almond (Prunus amygdalus Batsch), apple (Malus domestica Borkh.), apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.), Japanese quince (Chaenomeles japonica (Thunb.)) and China rose (Rosa chinesis Jacq.) were estimated. All experiments were conducted in the laboratory under controlled conditions of 25±1°C, 60±5% RH, and a photoperiod of 16:8h (L:D), with 24 hours of cohort eggs. The experimental units were checked daily and fed on pollen grains. In control treatment, the mites were fed on immature stages of Tetranychus urticae Koch. After maturity, male and female individuals in each treatment were mated together. In this regard, the survival of individuals and the number of eggs laid by each pair after puberty were checked daily. The evaluations continued until the death of the last individual. The obtained data were analyzed using the TWOSEX-MSChart program and the mean values and standard error were determined using 100,000 bootstrap. According to the results, the intrinsic rate of increase (r) in the treatments of almond, apple, apricot, Japanese quince, China rose, and control was estimated 0.153±0.012, 0.184±0.013, 0.0170±0.012, 0.183±0.012, 0.164±0.011 and 0.158±0.012 (day-1) and there was no significant difference between different treatments. Also, none of the statistics of finite rate of increase (λ), gross rate of increase (GRR), and net rate of increase (R0) showed any significant difference among treatments and between these parameters and the mites fed on the main prey. Only the mean generation time (T) in the almond treatment was 19.57±0.617 (days), which was significantly longer than other treatments (respectively 16.51±0.407, 17.27±0.367, 16.67±0.341, 16.65±0.287 and 17.30±0.429 (days)). Also, the average fertility in the control, and China rose treatments was 24.22±1.310 and 26.14±1.415 eggs/female, respectively, and it was significantly different with the same parameter calculated in the almond, apple, apricot, and Japanese quince treatments (respectively 34.99±2.932, 37.51±2.464, 32.61±2.026 and 34.95±2.181 (eggs/female)). Therefore, the pollen grains of different species of Rosaceae plants provide suitable food for A. swirskii predatory mites and can be used as supplementary or alternative food during the mite rearing or in the greenhouse and field during the reduction of the main prey population.