On the effect of crowding on oviposition by Oligonychus mangiferus (Rahm. & Sap.) (Acar., Tetranychidae).
Sirsikar A. N., Nagabhushanam R.
Author Affiliation: Department of Zoology, Marathwada University, Aurungabad 431?004, Maharashtra, India.
Anzeiger für Schädlingskunde, Pflanzenschutz, Umweltschutz 57 : 154-155
Abstract : In laboratory investigations in India on Oligonychus mangiferus (a pest of tropical fruit including mango, grapefruit and pomegranate) reared on discs of mango leaves at 23-28°C, 50-72% RH and LD12:12, females were placed at the rate of 1, 5 or 10/leaf and their oviposition rates were observed. The total number of eggs per female during a 7-day observation period was 13.60 ± 0.54 for isolated females, and 9.88 ± 0.55 and 5.32 ± 0.45 for females kept at the rate of 5 and 10/leaf disc, respectively. The hatching rate (100%) was not affected by crowding. The crowding effect was independent of the amount of food available.