Development, survival, and reproduction of Amblyseius swirskii (Athias- Henriot) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) feeding on different pollen grains

In the present study, the development, reproduction, survival, and population growth rate of the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii Athias- Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) were evaluated when fed on pollen of eight different plant species; lebbeck [Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth.], date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.), Khejri [Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce], castor bean (Ricinus communis L.), maize (Zea mays L.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), cogongrass [Imperata cylindrical (L.) P. Beauv.], and cattail (Typha sp.), at 25 ± 1 °C, 65 ± 5% relative humidity and a photoperiod of 16:8 h (L: D). Pollen of maize and date palm did not exert any mortality during pre-imaginal development, while the highest immature mortality was observed on cogongrass pollen. The longest immature development of both sexes was obtained when sunflower pollen was the food source, whereas it was shortest on castor bean pollen followed by date palm pollen. Females fed on maize pollen laid the highest number of eggs, while the females on cogongrass laid the lowest number. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) and the finite rate of increase (λ) were highest on date palm pollen and the lowest on cogongrass. Overall, we found that date palm and maize pollen are the most promising alternative food sources of the species tested for A. swirskii because populations reared on date palm and maize pollen showed no pre-adult mortality and had the longest oviposition period, and the highest fecundity and population growth rates.