Mass production of Neoseiulus cucumeris (Phytoseiidae): an assessment of fifty generations reared on almond pollen

Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) (Acari: Phytoseiidae), an economically important biological control agent, was reared on almond pollen for 50 generations. We evaluated the effect of rearing predators on this pollen by comparing biological parameters at different generations (G1-G50). The shortest and longest developmental time was observed in G5 and G10, respectively. The females reread at 5th and 50th generations laid eggs earlier than those of other generations. Females at G50 laid eggs over a longer period and produced more eggs than females of other generations, although females in the earlier generations had a higher gross reproductive rate (GRR) and net reproductive rate (R0) than later generations. The intrinsic rate of increase (r), as well as the finite rate of increase (λ) of N. cucumeris in 5th and 50th generations was significantly higher than those in other generations, while the first generation had the lowest values of these parameters. The dorsal shield length of both females and males and the width of females were found to be unaffected by their constant feeding on almond pollen. However, the number of rearing generations significantly affects the width of males. The results suggest that the long-term rearing of N. cucumeris on the almond pollen did not substantially affect the predator’s quality for at least 50 generations. Therefore, it has the potential for the mass production of this predator for use in biological control. Such a substrate could be investigated for use in rearing other phytoseiid mites that are important in biological control.