BIONOMICS OF NODELE-CALAMONDIN MUMA (ACARINA, CHEYLETIDAE) FED ON LEPIDOGLYPHUS-DESTRUCTOR (SCHRANK) (ACARINA, GLYCYPHAGIDAE) AT 2 CONSTANT TEMPERATURES

Nodele calamondin Muma is a predator of other mite species and of small insect larvae. Unmated females produced only male offspring (arrhenotoky), which subsequently mated with their mothers to produce female as well as male offspring. At 29.5-degrees-C these females became adults an average of 47.3 days after the emergence of the mother. Males have one nymphal stage in their development and females have two nymphal stages. Males guarded the quiescent deutonymph females and mating took place as soon as the females emerged as adults. Unmated females lived more than twice as long as mated females and laid about 89% of the number of eggs laid by their mated sisters. The average duration of a generation was 62 days at 25-degrees-C and 34 days at 29.5-degrees-C. Net reproductive rate (ratio of female births in two successive generations) was 20 at 25-degrees-C and 34 at 29.5-degrees-C.