BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF BREVIPALPUS OBOVATUS DONNADIEU (ACARI: TENUIPALPIDAE) ON YELLOW PASSION FRUIT

ABSTRACT Considering the occurrence of Brevipalpus obovatus (Donnadieu, 1875) (Acari, Tenuipalpidae) in passion fruit orchards (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Deg. – Passifloraceae) in the state of Bahia, Brazil, the biology of this species was studied to evaluate the development and reproduction on yellow passion fruit leaves. The study was carried out in the laboratory at 25 ± 1° C, 70 ± 10% of relative humidity and 12 h of photophase. The egg to adult period was 19.11 ± 0.16 days, with 86.11% survival. The female average longevity was 37.69 ± 3.06 days and the daily average oviposition was 1.29 ± 0.05 eggs/female. The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was 0.064; the finite rate of increase (λ) was 1.066 females/female/day; the average generation time (T) was 38.94 days and the net rate of reproduction (Ro) was 12.13. The results indicated that the yellow passion fruit is a favorable host for the development and reproduction of B. obovatus.