Abstract

ZURITA, Hernán; MARTINEZ, María A.  and  VASQUEZ, Carlos. Biological parameters of Tetranychus gloveri Banks, 1900 (Acari: Tetranychidae) on Cocos nucifera L. leaves. Investig. Agrar. [online]. 2016, vol.18, n.1, pp.30-36. ISSN 2305-0683.  https://doi.org/10.18004/investig.agrar.2016.junio.30-36.

Tetranychus gloveri Banks has been reported feeding on 107 plant species and it is generally considered a severe pest. Laboratory studies were carried out to determine life cycle, fecundity, longevity and life table parameters of Tetranychus gloveri Banks on Cocos nucifera L. leaves. Biological studies were conducted on detached coconut leaves var. Malayan Yellow Dwarf (28 ± 3°C, 70 ± 10% RH). Total developmental time for T. gloveri was 12.0 ± 0.95 days and the pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition mean time were 3,0 ± 1,11; 9,33 ± 3,57 and 1,22 ± 0,67 days, respectively. Mean fecundity was 29.8 eggs female^-1 and oviposition rate was 2.9 eggs female^-1 day^-1 while mean longevity of T. gloveri females was 13.1 days. Life table parameters showed values for intrinsic rate of natural increase (r_m) 0.100 individuals/female/day, generation time (T) 19.0 days, net reproduction rate (R₀) 6.73, the finite natural increase rate (λ) 1,105 individuals female^-1. Population increase parameters indicated that T. gloveri did not show a high biotic potential when reared on C. nucifera leaves.

Keywords : Tetranychus gloveri; Cocos nucifera; phytophagous mites; biology.

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