Age-Stage Two-Sex Life Table of Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae) Fed on Bemisia tabaci Nymphs

Abstract

The age-stage, two-sex life table is an advanced analytical tool widely used to evaluate the population dynamics and biological performance of predatory mites under varying feeding conditions. The present study investigated the developmental duration, survival rate, fecundity, and population growth parameters of Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae) when fed on nymphs of Bemisia tabaci. Experiments were conducted under controlled laboratory conditions to determine the suitability of whitefly nymphs as prey for sustaining the predator population. Different developmental stages of the predator, including egg, larva, protonymph, deutonymph, and adult, were observed daily to record developmental time, longevity, reproduction, and survival. The obtained data were analyzed using the age-stage, two-sex life table theory to estimate important demographic parameters such as the intrinsic rate of increase, finite rate of increase, net reproductive rate, mean generation time, and gross reproductive rate. Results indicated that Amblyseius swirskii successfully completed its life cycle on Bemisia tabaci nymphs and exhibited high survival and reproductive potential. Female adults showed greater longevity and fecundity compared to males, contributing significantly to population growth. The positive intrinsic rate of increase and net reproductive rate demonstrated the predator’s ability to establish and multiply effectively on whitefly prey. The findings confirm that Amblyseius swirskii is a promising biological control agent against Bemisia tabaci and may be effectively utilized in integrated pest management programs for sustainable crop protection.