Pollen as a supplemental or alternative nutritional resource for Typhlodromus transvaalensis Nesbitt (Acari: Phytoseiidae), a predatory mite targeting physic nut pests
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The reproductive potential of generalist phytoseiid mites is greater when they are fed on pollen. Here, we assessed the biological, reproductive and population parameters of the phytoseiid mite (Typhlodromus transvaalensis) fed with three food sources (pollen): corn (Zea mays), physic nut (Jatropha curcas) and castor bean (Ricinus communis). This phytoseiid mite was able to develop, survive and reproduce with Z. mays, J. curcas and R. communis pollen, standing out in all the parameters when fed with R. communis pollen, followed by Z. mays pollen, showing adequate oviposition, post-oviposition, longevity and survival periods. In contrast, J. curcas pollen was unfavourable for T. transvaalensis, causing a delay in its biological cycle of 2.3 times. Reproductive and population parameters of T. transvaalensis were proportional to the application frequency of R. communis pollen, with best results at the 24-hour frequency. These results suggest that T. transvaalensis can successfully use pollen from several plants as an alternative and/or complementary food at various application frequencies.
Source: Acarologia
DOI: 10.24349/1gsz-kba8
Language: English
Subfield: Insect Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7214091097