The mating speed in Oligonychus gossypii (Zacher) (Tetranychidae: Acarina)

The number of mated pairs in laboratory populations of the spider mite, O. gossypii increases with time, but levels off by 30–35th min of a 60 min observation period. This levelling off results from a progressive decline in the numbers of sexually active adults available in the population. Non-maters constitute about one-fourth of the laboratory populations at all density levels. Irrespective of the density and reversal of sex ratio, the shape of the mating curve remains the same.