Development, survival and reproduction of a potential biological control agent, Lasioseius japonicus Ehara (Acari: Blattisociidae), on eggs of Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera: Drosophilidae) and Sitotroga cerealella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Lasioseius japonicus is a species of soil-dwelling predatory mite with great potential for controlling insect pests and has a broad application prospect in biological control. This study was conducted under indoor conditions to explore the development, survival and reproduction of L. japonicus on two diets. Through the construction of two-sex life table of L. japonicus, it was revealed that, when it preyed on eggs of Drosophila melanogaster, the intrinsic rate of increase (r) was 0.2614 d-1, the net reproductive rate (R0) was 57.76 offspring, the finite rate of increase (λ) was 1.2988 d-1, and the mean generation time (T) was 15.49 d. When preying on eggs of Sitotroga cerealella, the intrinsic rate of increase (r) of L. japonicus was 0.1560 d-1, the net reproductive rate (R0) was 20.96 offspring, the finite rate of increase (λ) was 1.1690d-1, and the mean generation time (T) was 19.41 d. In addition, the life expectancy and population growth trend of L. japonicus were simulated based on the above two alternative prey species. The results showed that feeding on the eggs of D. melanogaster is more beneficial to the growth and reproduction of L. japonicus.