Longevity and fecundity ofAcarus siro on four field and eight storage fungi

Egg production and longevity of isolated pairs ofAcarus siro L., when fed on mycelial pellets of selected fungi from shake cultures, were compared with those on a control diet of wheatgerm and brewer's yeast. The mites were always less productive on the fungal diet. They did best on the yeastHansenula anomola and worst on the field fungusAlternaria alternata. There was very little difference between egg production on wheatgerm alone and that on the control diet of wheatgerm and yeast. On the control diet, males lived longer than females. Fungal diets usually shortened male lives, while in two-thirds of the cases female lifespans were unaffected.