Life cycle of the predatory mite Cheyletus malaccensis (Acari: Cheyletidae) fed on Poultry Red Mite Dermanyssus gallinae (Acari: Dermanyssidae)

Abstract

This study evaluated the biological characteristics of predatory mite Cheyletus malaccensis fed on Dermanyssus gallinae at different temperatures. The study started with thirty individual eggs of C. malaccensis each isolated in an experimental unit, which developed throughout their life stages while feeding on D. gallinae at each temperature tested (20ºC, 25ºC and 30±1ºC and 80±5% relative humidity). Emerged adult females were not mated, thus producing only male offspring (arrhenotoky). Fecundity was the highest at 25°C (415.62±24.78 eggs/female) and lowest at 20°C followed at 30ºC. The mean length of a generation did not displayed difference among the three temperatures, but the net reproductive rate (Ro), innate capacity for increase (rm) finite increase rate (λ) were significantly higher at 30°C and lower at 20°C. Cheyletus malaccensis was able to develop and reproduce successfully when fed D. gallinae, and the optimum temperature for development, fertility and survival was 25°C. Our findings proved that C. malaccensis might be a natural enemy of D. gallinae, because it was able to develop and reproduce while feeding exclusively on this ectoparasite.