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Quantitative impact of mating duration on reproduction and offspring sex ratio of Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae)
Lü Jia-le, ZHANG Bao-he, JIANG Xiao-huan, WANG En-dong, XU Xue-nong
2019, 18 (4): 884-892.   DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(18)61974-4
Abstract293)      PDF (3227KB)(166)      
Phytoseiulus persimilis is an important biological control agent, commercially produced worldwide.  To increase understandings of its reproduction, herein we provided quantitative descriptions of the inflation and deflation of its spermathecae as a function of time and copulation duration, and the quantitative impact of copulation termination on volume of spermatheca vesicle, fecundity, and offspring sex ratio.  After mating started, at least one spermatheca started to inflate immediately, but no egg was produced until spermatheca volume reached 1 021 μm3.  Beyond this size, cumulative fecundity was linearly correlated with vesicle volume.  Producing one egg required 36 μm3 volume increase of the vesicle.  Each spermatheca vesicle reached its peak size at the end of mating duration (ca. 2.38 h after mating started), and started to shrink immediately.  In 24 h, ca. 71% individuals had one completely shriveled spermatheca, while in 72 h all individuals had at least one shriveled spermatheca.  The estimated maximum cumulative fecundity per female after a single mating is (69.4±7.7) eggs.  No significant impact of mating termination on offspring sex ratio was observed after mating duration reached 60 min, while higher proportion of male offspring was observed when mating duration is 15 or 30 min.  This study is the first step to investigate possible male impact on offspring sex ratio in P. persimilis.  Our results suggested the number of sperms received during mating be a restriction factor of P. persimilis offspring sex ratio regulation.
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Compatibility of Beauveria bassiana with Neoseiulus barkeri for Control of Frankliniella occidentalis
WU Sheng-yong, GAO Yu-lin, XU Xue-nong, Mark S Goettel, LEI Zhong-ren
2015, 14 (1): 98-105.   DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60731-5
Abstract2217)      PDF in ScienceDirect      
The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin and predatory mite Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes are effective biological control agents of Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), one of the most important pests of ornamentals and vegetables world-wide. Combined application of both may enhance control efficiency. The functional response for N. barkeri on the first instar larvae of western flower thrips which were infected by B. bassiana for 12 and 24 h in the laboratory ((25±1)°C, (70±5)% RH, L:D=16 h:8 h) was determined. The virulence of B. bassiana against the second instar and pupae of the thrips attacked by N. barkeri were also tested. The results showed that N. barkeri exhibited a Holling type II functional response on treated thrips. After having been treated with the fungus for 12 h and then offered to the predator, thrips were more vulnerable to be killed by N. barkeri. The second instar larvae and pupae of the thrips which had been attacked by predatory mites were markedly more susceptible to B. bassiana infection than normal thrips; the cumulative corrected mortality of B. bassiana of the second instar and pupae which were attacked by N. barkeri were 57 and 94%, respectively, compared to 35 and 80% in controls on the day 8. These findings highlight the potential use of B. bassiana in combination with N. barkeri to control F. occidentalis.
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