Biology and demography of cassava red spider mite, Oligonychus biharensis (Hirst) (Acari: Tetranychidae) on Manihot esculenta L.

Abstract

Development and population performance of mite, Oligonychus biharensis was studied on cassava at three different constant temperatures (28°C, 24°C and 32°C) in the laboratory. The developmental period from egg to adult varied from 11.57 days at 24°C to 5.57 days at 32°C. The average longevity of adult mated female ranged from 9.10 days to 15.72 days, while the oviposition period varied from 8.46 days to 13.66 days. Fecundity ranged from 52.03 to 79.42 eggs/ female. At 24°C, each mated female laid 79.42 eggs over 13.66 days and produced a female-biased progeny of 11.48:1 sex ratio. Also, higher Net Reproduction Rate of 69.96 female off-springs/ female/ generation, Mean Generation Time of 20.15 days, Doubling Time of 3.33 days, Intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm) of 0.2259 female off-springs/female/day were observed.