Life table and reproduction parameters of Orius albidipennis Reuter on different developmental stages of Tetranychus urticae Koch

The predatory bug Orius albidipennis is one of the most important biological control agents of some orchard, cultivated and ornamental crop pests in Iran. Therefore, determination of its biological characteristics is important. In this research, life table and population parameters of O. albidipennis were investigated in a growth chamber at temperature of 25±1ºC, 65± 10% relative humidity and a photoperiod of 14:10 (L:D) hours on different developmental stages of Tetranychus urticae. The experiment was carried out using 100 one day old eggs of O. albidipennis and mortality of different developmental stages was estimated daily. The results indicated that age specific mortality of O. albidipennis on different developmental stages of two-spotted spider mite was started from 4th day and increased gradually with regular fluctuations. Life expectancy was increased after emerging of nymphs and then was decreased regularly. Life expectancy was estimated 12.97 and 18.86 days in nymph and adult emerging time, respectively. The gross fecundity rate, gross fertility rate and gross hatch were determined 76.45±0.42, 60.12±2.29 and 0.79, respectively. The mean numbers of eggs per female per day was estimated 4.25 eggs.