Biology of the red spider mite, Oligonychus mangiferus (R. & S.) (Acarina: Tetranychidae).
Zaher M. A., Shehata K. K.
Author Affiliation: Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Arab Republic of Egypt.
Bulletin de la Societe Entomologique d'Egypte 55 : 393-401
Abstract : Oligonychus mangiferus (Rahm. & Sapra), an important pest of mango and pomegranate in Egypt, was reared in the laboratory on sweet potato in studies on its bionomics. All stages of the mite are described. Pairing occurred soon after the female had completed the final moult, and the eggs were laid singly, usually on the upper surface of the leaf. Arrhenotokous parthenogenesis occurred. Females laid averages of about 23.6 eggs each in spring, 29.8 in summer, 33.5 in autumn and 19.9 in winter. The egg stage averaged 4.1 days in summer and 17.8 days in winter, and a generation was completed in an average of 10 days in summer and 42.4 days in winter; 21 generations were completed in the course of a year. Males formed an average of 19.5% of the population. It was observed in the field that O. mangiferus was attacked by four species of mites, the Coccinellid Stethorus punctum (Lec.) and Scolothrips longicornis Priesn.