Functional response of adult Cheyletus malaccensis (Acari: Cheyletidae) to different developmental stages of Aleuroglyphus ovatus (Acari: Acaridae)

Cheyletus malaccensis is an important natural enemy of stored pests. In the study, the functional response of C. malaccensis against Aleuroglyphus ovatus was investigated under five constant temperatures of 16, 20, 24, 28 and 32 °C. The results showed that the functional response of adult C. malaccensis to different stages of A. ovatus was conformed to Holling II. Under the temperature between 16 and 32 °C, C. malaccensis females consumed more larvae and nymphs, followed by male and females of A. ovatus. While male C. malaccensis merely consumed larvae and nymphs of prey. Adult C. malaccensis ate few eggs of A. ovatus. The daily consumption and instantaneous attack rate (a/Th) increased with the temperature increasing from 16 °C to 32 °C while the peak was at 28 °C. The maximum daily consumption for larva and a/Th of female C. malaccensis are 135.1 and 110.7, respectively. Cheyletus malaccensis showed positive preference to larvae and nymphs, while negative preference to adults and eggs of A. ovatus. Because of the competition and interference among predators, the predation efficiency decreased with the density of predator increasing, and the interference coefficient (m) was 0.485 at 28 °C. These results could be helpful to provide theoretical basis and practical instructions for the biological control of A. ovatus by C. malaccensis. •The functional responses of adult C. malaccensis to different developmental stages of A. ovatus are type II responses.•The daily consumption and a/Th increased with the temperature increasing and reached the peak at 28°C.•The mean consumption of per predator decreased with the number increasing of predator.•C. malaccensis preferred to consume larvae and nymphs, then males, females and eggs of A. ovatus. Females consumed more.•C.malaccensis showed positive preference to larvae and nymphs, while negative preference to adults and eggs of A. ovatus.