Effect of temperature on the functional response of the predatory mite Macrocheles muscaedomesticae (Acari: Macrochelidae) by feeding on eggs of the house fly, Musca domestica (Dip.: Muscidae)

Macrocheles muscaedomesticae (Scopoli) is the most common mite found in cow and poultry manure worldwide. It feeds on manure-dwelling flies and spreads via flies. According to studies conducted in Khuzestan, Iran, and other countries, this is the dominant predator mite of immature the house flies, Musca domestica L. in domestic animal manures.  Control strategies for dipterous pest species continue to rely heavily on insecticides, even though these species have developed resistance to most insecticides currently available due to their widespread use. Increased public and farmer awareness have prompted scientists to investigate alternative methods for managing these filth flies. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of two temperatures on M. muscaedomesticae'sfunctional response to varying egg densities of M. domestica.

In this study, the functional response of female predator mite M. muscaedomesticae was examined on the house fly eggs in an incubator at two constant temperatures of 27 ± 1°C and 33 ± 1°C, 65 ± 5% RH, 14:10 h (L: D). Densities of 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 25, 30, 40, and 80 house fly eggs were offered to mated adult female mites. Before the experiments, female predators were fed and mated for 48 hours and then starved for 24 hours. Each treatment was replicated ten times. After 24 hours of exposure, the number of preys killed by each predator was recorded.

By logistic regression, the functional response of M. muscaedomesticae to varying densities of the house fly eggs was classified as type III in 27°C and type II in 33°C. Rogers' equation was used to calculate the functional response parameters. At 27°C, the attack coefficient and handling time were 0.0204 h-1 and 0.6497 h, respectively, and 0.6493 h-1 and 0.4769 h at 33°C. At 33°C, the maximum attack rate (T/Th) was 50.32 eggs/day and 36.94 eggs/day at 27°C. R2 values for M. muscaedomesticae at two constant temperatures were estimated to be 0.935 and 0.996 at 27°C and 33°C, respectively. Only at 40 and 80 prey densities did the analysis of variance reveal a significant difference in adult females' daily prey consumption between two constant temperatures. Additionally, there were significant differences between all densities at 33°C and the majority of densities at 27°C.

The temperature affected the type of functional response, the handling time, and the maximum attack rate. The findings of this study may contribute to a better understanding of the mite M. muscae