Effect of temperature on life table parameters of the predatory soil mite Blattisocius mali (Acari: Blattisociidae) fed on Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Acari: Acaridae).

Temperature impacts the development, survival, and fecundity of edaphic predatory mites. This study examined the biological and life table parameters of the edaphic predatory mite Blattisocius mali (Oudemans) (Acari: Blattisociidae) feeding on Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acari: Acaridae) at four different temperatures, 15 °C, 20 °C, 25 °C, and 30 °C. The developmental period, reproductive period, and adult longevity of B. mali shortened with rising temperature. The lower temperature threshold and thermal constant ranged between 13.02 and 13.73 °C, and 83.36-89.04 oD, respectively. Mated females had longer ovipositional periods and longevity, and greater fecundity and egg-hatching percentage than those of virgin females. The age-specific fecundity and survival rate were satisfactorily described by temperature-dependent models. The peak fecundity rate of both mated (2.12 eggs/female/day) and virgin females (1.92 eggs/female/day) was obtained at 25 °C. The sex ratio of mated females was female-biased and did not vary with temperature. Blattisocius mali had significantly higher values of finite rate of increase and intrinsic rate of increase at 25 °C and 30 °C, while it had higher values of net reproductive rate and gross reproductive rate at 20 °C and 25 °C. The mean generation time and doubling time were the longest at 15 °C. This study demonstrated that B. mali could develop and reproduce at temperatures ranging from 15 °C to 30 °C, and the prey T. putrescentiae have approximately similar temperature thresholds for development, positioning it as a viable option for the biological control of acarid mite pests within this temperature range.