Mating behavior of the predatory mite Kampimodromus aberrans (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Authors: Pappas, Maria L.¹; Broufas, George D.²; Koveos, Dimitris S.³

Source: Experimental and Applied Acarology, Volume 36, Number 3, September 2005 , pp. 187-197(11)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

The mating behavior of the predatory mite Kampimodromus aberrans was studied in the laboratory at a constant temperature of 25± 1 °C and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D). Forty pairs of newly emerged virgin females and unmated males, were maintained separately on leaf discs and their mating behavior, was observed continuously under a stereomicroscope. The mean time until first contact of female and male individuals was approximately 8.2 min. After the first contact the male moved to the top of the female’s dorsum and subsequently underneath her in approximately 1.7 min and then the paired mites walked around on the leaf surface for approximately 7.5 min. Afterwards, the mites remained still in the mating position, i.e. the male beneath the female for an average period of 230.5 min. After mating, most of the females had one spermatophore in one of their spermathecae, whereas a few had one spermatophore in both spermathecae.

Keywords: Insemination mode; Kampimodromus aberrans; Mating behavior; Phytoseiidae

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10493-005-5303-7

Affiliations: 1: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Faculty of Agriculture, Laboratory of Applied Zoology and Parasitology, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece, 2: Democritus University of Thrace, Department of Agricultural Development, Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology and Zoology, 68 200, Orestiada, Greece, 3: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Faculty of Agriculture, Laboratory of Applied Zoology and Parasitology, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece, Email: koveos@agro.auth.gr

Publication date: 2005-09-01