Biological parameters of Tetranychus mexicanus (McGregor) (Acari: Tetranychidae) in papaya and passion fruit

ABSTRACT The main crops attacked by Tetranychus mexicanus (McGregor) include papaya (Carica papaya L.) and passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims); however, the biological parameters of the mite in these hosts remain unknown. This research aimed to analyze the biology, development, survival and reproduction, as well as estimate the fertility life table of T. mexicanus in papaya and passion fruit, in an acclimatized chamber. The duration of the developmental stages of T. mexicanus was established and the reproductive parameters of the females were determined and used to construct the life table. The egg-adult period was 11.2 ± 0.07 and 12.0 ± 0.11 days, with a survival rate of 92.0 ± 0.04 and 79.0 ± 0.06 % for the T. mexicanus populations, respectively in papaya and passion fruit. Both the egg-adult periods and survival rates were significantly different. The fecundity was 106.0 ± 8.96 and 81.7 ± 7.21 eggs/♀, with a net reproduction rate (R0) of 86.8 ± 0.15 and 56.7 ± 0.12 ♀/♀/generation, respectively the for papaya and passion fruit populations, with significant differences. The results indicate that T. mexicanus has a high capacity to develop, survive and reproduce on both hosts, especially on papaya.