Influence of temperature and vapor pressure deficit on survival of the predatory mite Amblyseius cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Survival of the egg, larva, protonymph, deutonymph, and adult stages of non-feeding Amblyseius cucumeris (Oudemans) for several temperature and vapor pressure deficit combinations were determined in the laboratory. The larval stage had the smallest survival rate for the range of temperatures and vapor pressure deficits tested. The adult stage had 90% survival except when the vapor pressure deficit was 2.5 kPa. Polynomial models were fitted to the survival data for each stage. These models predict the survival rates for A. cucumeris at likely combinations of greenhouse temperatures and vapor pressure deficits. Implications for using this information to improve the effectiveness of A. cucumeris in the biological control of western flower thrips. Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), are discussed