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.     

Production and purification of recombinant Blomia tropicalis group 5 allergen from Pichia pastoris culture

The gene of Blomia tropicalis group 5 allergen (Blo t 5) was cloned and expressed in Pichia pastoris KM71. Selected KM71 clones were cultivated in a fed-batch bioreactor feeding first glycerol then followed by methanol. Recombinant Blo t 5 constituted about 30% of the total broth protein after 60 h cultivation. The harvested broth was purified to >95% purity by a two-step anion exchange chromatography. The overall yield was 37 mg Blo t 5 per litre broth.     

Influence of temperature on life-table parameters of Stethorus gilvifrons (Mulsant) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) fed on Tetranychus urticae Koch

The influence of temperature on life-table parameters, fecundity and survivorship of the predatory ladybird, Stethorus gilvifrons , fed on Tetranychus urticae was determined at seven constant temperatures of 15°C, 20°C, 25°C, 28°C, 30°C, 35°C and 40°C. No development was observed at 40°C, thus being regarded as the threshold for the development of S. gilvifrons . The results indicate a significant decrease in male and female longevity with increasing temperature from 15°C to 35°C. The longest and shortest longevity were 18.40 and 12.75 days for males and 17.40 and 8.80 days for females, respectively. The intrinsic rate of natural increase ( r _m ) and the net reproductive rate ( R ₀) of S. gilvifrons linearly increased with increasing temperatures from 15°C to 35°C, while the mean generation time ( T ) and doubling time (DT) decreased linearly within this temperature range. The highest values of r _m (0.240 females/female/day) and R ₀ (59.27 females/female) and the lowest mean generation time (17.01 days) and DT (2.88 days) were recorded at 35°C. The maximum (185.50 eggs) and minimum (25.50 eggs) measurement of total fecundity was also recorded at 35°C and 15°C, respectively. The results indicate that temperature greatly affected fecundity, survivorship and life-table parameters of S. gilvifrons , and that 35°C is a suitable temperature for population growth of this predator.     

NEW RECORD OF PIONOPSIS,TIPHYINAE, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO NEW SPECIES IN CHINESE WATER MITE FAUNA (ACARI: HYGROBATOIDEA: PIONIDAE)*

Abstract Two new species of water mites, Pionopsis (s.s.)longicosta sp. nov. and Pionopsis (s.s.) zhaoi sp. nov. are described in the present paper. This is the first record of the genus of the subfamily Tiphyinae in the family Pionidae from China.     

SEX RATIO AND AGE STRUCTURE OF GAMASID MITES FROM SMALL MAMMALS IN WESTERN YUNNAN,CHINA*

Abstract A total of 70 species of gamasid mites (7485 individuals) were collected from the body surface of 38 species of small mammals (3023 individuals) during an investigation of 13 counties of western Yunnan, China, from 1990 to 1996. Most species of gamasid mites have more females (80% 100%) than males (P <0.01). Exceptions are Haemogamasus gongshanensis where males outnumber females (P < 0.01) and Haemolaelaps glasgowi where there are similar numbers of males and females (P > 0.05). No larva was found in most of the mite species. The proportion of individuals at the immature stages (mainly protonymphs and deutonymphs) in most mite species is small (0–12.84%) compared to the adults (P < 0.01). Exceptions are Ornithonyssus bacoti and Haemolaelaps glasgowi where 62.84% and 49.48% respectively are nymphs. The biased sex ratios may reflect the probable different bloodsucking preferences and parthenogenesis of the gamasid mites. The absence of larvae and a low proportion of nymph stages in most mite species probably reflect that the larvae or nymphs of most mite species are non‐feeding or non‐blood sucking and are in their hosts' nests. Another possibility is that some species directly produce protonymphs or even deutonymphs without eggs and larvae which makes it difficult to find the larval stage.     

Respiratory metabolism of Alaskozetes antarcticus

Measurements of oxygen consumption in all post-embryonic life stages of U.K. cultured Alaskozetes antarcticus (Acari: Cryptostigmata) showed that log₁₀ respiration rate was linearly related to log₁₀ live weight, while log_e metabolic rate was linearly related to the reciprocal of the absolute temperature over the range 273–283°K, although the magnitude of response to temperature shown by different life stages was found to vary. Differences were apparent between cultured animals and previous measurements made on field animals, especially in respect of the relationship between respiration rate and live weight. The data were found to support the hypothesis of cold adaptation by means of metabolic rate elevation and a possible mechanism in discussed.     

A new species of spider mite, Oligonychus palus sp. nov. (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae), from tropical Australia

Abstract  A new spider mite, Oligonychus palus sp. nov . , is described from banana in northern Australia. Comments are made about the validity of the subgenera within Oligonychus Berlese and the new species is compared with a similar Indian species O. sapienticolus Gupta.     

Egg-depositing behavior as a predator avoidance tactic of Yezonychus sapporensis Ehara (Acari, Tetranychidae)

Spider mites are very small phytophagous organisms living on plant leaves. They possess a diverse array of life types. Such diversity in life type has been supposed to be a result of coevolution between predator and prey, although there is little concrete evidence to support this concept. In Yezonychus sapporensis inhabiting the leaves of a dwarf bamboo, Sasa senanensis, all quiescent stages including eggs appear on the tips of the host leaf hairs during the summer season, and this habit is thought to be a kind of predator avoidance trait. To confirm this, the survival rates of Y. sapporensis eggs deposited on natural sites and experimentally manipulated sites were observed for eight co-occurring predator species. The results clearly showed that the oviposition behavior of Y. sapporensis has a function in avoiding predator attack, at least under experimental conditions. Received: October 26, 2000 / Accepted: December 19, 2000