The influence of prey type on the development and reproduction of some predatory soil mites

WALTER, D. E., H. W. HUNT & E. T. ELLIOTT, 1988. The influence Of prey type on the development and reproduction of some predatory soil mites. Pedobiologia 30, 419—424. Three species of predatory gamasid (Acari: Mesostigmata) mites from native shortgrass steppe sod were reared on nematode and arthropod prey species with which they co-occur. All three predators developed from larva to adult in significantly less time on nematode prey than on arthropod prey.Gamasellodes veirmiporax WALTER (Ascidae) produced eggs only when fed on nematodes (3 prey species), and not on arthropods (4 prey species). However, arthropod prey were sufficient to maintain an adult female in a prereproductive state for up to 40 days.G. \ reared on arthropod prey produced eggs after nematodes were added to the diets.Macrochetes n. sp. (Macrochelidae) responded similarly to G. vermivorax. In contrast, Cosmolaelaps vacua(MICHAEL) (Laelapidae) developed more slowly on arthropod prey, but produced eggs on all diets (3 species of nematodes, 3 species of arthropods).