Influence of host plant species on the development and reproduction of hawthorn spider mites

Abstract

A leaf disc bioassay was employed to investigate the influence of host species of deciduous fruit trees, like apple, peach, plum, cherry and apricot, on the development and reproduction of the hawthorn spider mite Tetranychus viennensis Zacher in the laboratory under conditions of 25?1!, 60?10% RH and a photoperiod of 16 h: 8 h light: dark. This was done by determining the duration of each life stage of the mites, the intrinsic rate of population increase ( r_m), mean generation time ( T) and net reproductive rate ( R₀) of the spider mites on each of the host plant species. Differences in life table parameters of the spider mite among host plants were analyzed with the jack-knife method. The results indicated that plum might be the best suitable plant for the spider mite among the plants tested due to shorter developmental period and higher intrinsic rate of increase, whereas cherry and apricot were least suitable due to their long developmental duration and low intrinsic rates of increase. When the spider mites were transferred from apple to other fruit trees, negative effects on developmental duration, fecundity and life table parameters were found in the first generation, but the effects faded out in succeeding generations. When transferred onto plum and peach, the spider mite adapted to the new hosts in the second generation; however, on cherry and apricot, it adapted in the third generation.