The host plant-mediated impact of simulated acid rain on the development and reproduction of Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Acari, Tetranychidae)

Abstract:  The host plant-mediated impact of simulated acid rain (pH 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 5.6, and 6.8) on the behaviour, development, and reproduction of carmine spider mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduvals), were evaluated at 25°C in a series of laboratory trials. The results indicated that the adults of carmine spider mite prefer to aggregate on pH 4.0 acid rain-treated eggplant leaves. The developmental times of nymph, larva and the pre-oviposition period of the mite on kidney bean leaves were significantly affected by acid rain treatments. The developmental times for the immature stages ranged from 11.4 days on pH 4.0 acid rain-treated leaves to 12.7 days on other acid rain-treated leaves. The survival of immatures varied from 85.14% on pH 4.0 acid rain-treated leaves to 78.83% on deionized water-treated leaves (pH 6.8). The mites feeding on acid rain-treated leaves (pH 3.0–5.6) had significantly greater reproductivity and longevity than those feeding on deionized water-treated leaves. The average greatest reproductivity (74.6 eggs per female) and longest female longevity (8.9 days) were recorded on pH 4.0 acid rain-treated leaves. Accordingly, the intrinsic rate of increase ( r _m ) for the mite on pH 4.0 acid rain-treated leaves was the highest. Jackknife estimates of r _m varied from 0.201 on pH 4.0 acid rain-treated leaves to 0.158 on pH 5.6 acid rain-treated leaves. The results implied that the population growth of the mite were enhanced by application of acid rain (pH 3.0–5.6) on host plants.