Temperature dependent development and population performance of Tetranychus fijiensis Hirst (Acari: Tetranychidae) on Papaya

Abstract

Developmental biology and life table characteristics of Tetranychus fijiensis Hirst (Acari: Tetranychidae) on papaya were studied at four distinct constant temperatures (20, 24, 28, and 32°C) and relative humidity (70-85%) conditions. With the increase in rearing temperature conditions, the length of T. fijiensis life cycle decreased from 34.46 to 8.58 days. At 20, 24, 28, and 32°C, the Net Reproduction Rate (R0) was 23.48, 39.06, 33.75, and 23.48 and; the intrinsic rate of population increase (rm) was 0.0694, 0.2003, 0.2281, and 0.1902 females/ female/day, respectively. The optimum temperature for mite development was observed to be between 24 and 28°C, while favourable temperature for optimal reproduction capacity of the mite was 28°C.