Morphological identification of Amphitetranychus species (Acari: Tetranychidae) with crossbreeding, esterase zymograms and DNA barcode data.

The genus Amphitetranychus Oudemans (Tetranychidae) consists of only three species, A. quercivorus (Ehara & Gotoh), A. savenkoae (Reck) and A.

An LED-based UV-B irradiation system for tiny organisms: System description and demonstration experiment to determine the hatchability of eggs from four Tetranychus spider mite species from Okinawa.

We developed a computer-based system for controlling the photoperiod and irradiance of UV-B and white light from a 5×5 light-emitting diode (LED) matrix (100×100mm). In this system, the LED matrix was installed in each of four irradiation boxes and controlled by pulse-width modulators so that each box can independently emit UV-B and white light at irradiances of up to 1.5 and 4.

Wolbachia-induced cytoplasmic incompatibility in Japanese populations of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae).

Intracellular bacteria of the genus Wolbachia (alpha Proteobacteria) induce cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) in many arthropod species, including spider mites, but not all Wolbachia cause CI. In spider mites CI becomes apparent by a reduced egg hatchability and a lower daughter:son ratio: CI in haplodiploid organisms in general was expected to produce all-male offspring or a male-biased sex ratio without any death of eggs. In a previous study of Japanese populations of Tetranychus urticae, two out of three green-form populations tested were infected with non-CI Wolbachia strains, whereas none of six red-form populations harbored Wolbachia.

Influence of prey on developmental performance, reproduction and prey consumption of Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae).

The Spical strain of the predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) is used as a biological control agent, but little is known about its preferred prey and host plants in Japan. Here we studied the development, reproduction and prey consumption of the Spical strain when fed on eggs of five different spider mite species deposited on both their laboratory-rearing plant and cherry, on which all five spider mite species developed well. The developmental periods of immature N.

Life-history traits of the six Panonychus species from Japan (Acari: Tetranychidae).

Six species of the genus Panonychus are known from Japan. Life-history parameters of all six species were investigated at 25 degrees C, and for three species two strains of different geographical origin were included. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r(m)) ranged from 0.

Population dynamics of Panonychus osmanthi (Acari: Tetranychidae) on two Osmanthus species.

Panonychus osmanthi is a non-diapausing species of spider mite that superficially resembles P. citri. It infests Osmanthus species, which are evergreen roadside and garden trees.