Reproductive potential, sex ratio, and mating efficiency of the straw itch mite (Acari: Pyemotidae)

Pyemotid mites are common parasites of many species of Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Hymenoptera. They have been associated incidentally with virtually every insect order, paralyzing and ultimately killing their hosts. The straw itch mite, Pyemotes tritici (Lagreze-Fossat and Montane 1851), has been studied the most in this family. P. tritici reproduces by arrhenotokous parthenogenesis and sex ratio is extremely female biased. Females become physogastric as they feed on host hemolymph. Offspring development is ovoviviparous: diploid adult females and haploid adult males emerge from a birth canal on the opisthosoma. Two studies were designed to assess female and male reproductive potential (progeny number and sex ratio), emergence rates, and male mating ability.