Long-term effects of cattail Typha latifolia pollen on development, reproduction, and predation capacity of Neoseiulus cucumeris, a predator of Tetranychus urticae

The effects of cattail Typha latifolia L. pollen on development and reproduction of Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) was determined over 25 consecutive generations (G). The ability of N. cucumeris to locate, capture, and consume natural prey Tetranychus urticae (Koch) was assessed after the 10th generation (G10-switch) and the 20th generation (G20-switch). Results indicated that T. latifolia pollen had no effect on N. cucumeris development time between G1 and G25. N. cucumeris fecundity was significantly greater in the older than younger generations. Life table analysis revealed that net reproductive rate (R0) was significantly higher for N. cucumeris fed T. latifolia at G10. Feeding on T. latifolia from G1-G5 resulted in lower intrinsic (r) and finite (λ) rates of increase. Feeding at G10 resulted in higher population growth rates. When switched to a diet of T. urticae, N. cucumeris immature development and fecundity were not significantly affected by generation. However, the values of r, gross reproductive rate (GRR), and λ were higher at the G20-switch than the G10-switch. Our results demonstrate that a diet of T. latifolia pollen supports N. cucumeris development and reproduction for 25 consecutive generations without reducing predation capacity. T. latifolia pollen is a suitable diet for long-term rearing of N. cucumeris for augmentative biological control of tetranychid mites.