Functional response, numerical response, mutual interference and switching behavior of the predatory mite Euseius scutalis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) fed on Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)
Abstract
The predatory mite Euseius scutalis (Athias-Henriot) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is known to control tetranychid mites, scale insects, and whiteflies, including Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). This study evaluated the potential of E. scutalis for controlling B. tabaci by examining its functional response, numerical response, mutual interference, and prey switching under laboratory conditions. A Type II functional response was observed when E. scutalis was fed B. tabaci eggs, with a searching rate (a) of 0.0093 and a handling time (Th) of 11.02. The numerical response of the predator indicated no significant differences in oviposition with increasing densities of B. tabaci eggs. Additionally, the per capita searching efficiency of E. scutalis remained constant as its density increased. Negative switching behavior was observed; in all ratios of B. tabaci eggs and Tetranychus turkestani Ugarov and Nikolskii eggs, the predator consistently preferred T. turkestani eggs. These findings indicate a low preference and performance of E. scutalis when targeting B. tabaci eggs.
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BibTeX
@article{gravandian2026functional,
title = {{Functional response, numerical response, mutual interference and switching behavior of the predatory mite Euseius scutalis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) fed on Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)}},
author = {Mohammad Gravandian and Parviz Shishehbor and Mehdi Esfandiari and Elham Riahi},
journal = {Acarologia},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.24349/z1rt-4dai},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05752275v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Functional response, numerical response, mutual interference and switching behavior of the predatory mite Euseius scutalis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) fed on Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)
AU - Mohammad Gravandian
AU - Parviz Shishehbor
AU - Mehdi Esfandiari
AU - Elham Riahi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/31
JO - Acarologia
DO - 10.24349/z1rt-4dai
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05752275v1
AB - The predatory mite Euseius scutalis (Athias-Henriot) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is known to control tetranychid mites, scale insects, and whiteflies, including Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). This study evaluated the potential of E. scutalis for controlling B. tabaci by examining its functional response, numerical response, mutual interference, and prey switching under laboratory conditions. A Type II functional response was observed when E. scutalis was fed B. tabaci eggs, with a searching rate (a) of 0.0093 and a handling time (Th) of 11.02. The numerical response of the predator indicated no significant differences in oviposition with increasing densities of B. tabaci eggs. Additionally, the per capita searching efficiency of E. scutalis remained constant as its density increased. Negative switching behavior was observed; in all ratios of B. tabaci eggs and Tetranychus turkestani Ugarov and Nikolskii eggs, the predator consistently preferred T. turkestani eggs. These findings indicate a low preference and performance of E. scutalis when targeting B. tabaci eggs.
SN - 0044-586X
SN - 2107-7207
ER -