Abstract
The effects of young plants of different legume species on the rate of multiplication of Halotydeus destructor (Tucker)(Acarina: Penthaleidae) were examined in one, two or four week experiments in the laboratory. Rates of multiplication of H. destructor were substantially greater on Vicia sativa (common vetch), Phaseolus vulgaris (dwarf bean) and Pisum sativum (snow pea), than on subterranean clover, Trifolium subterraneum; cultivars Dalkeith, Geraldton and Junee. Levels of soluble carbohydrate and soluble nitrogen were greater in vetch, bean and pea, than in the subclovers. Concentrations of 20 amino acids were not associated with differences in mite performance; pea contained higher levels of glutamine and homoserine than the other plants, which may have adversely affected mite multiplication.
In further experiments a carbohydrate supplement caused a fourfold increase in rate of multiplication on subclover cv Junee, but had no effect on rate of multiplication on vetch cv Blanchefleur. The carbohydrate supplement did not cause the rate of multiplication on subclover to equal that on vetch. Subclover is not an optimum host plant for H. destructor nutritionally. The nutritional value of host plants is one factor affecting mite multiplication.
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Annells, A.J., Ridsdill-Smith, T.J. Host plant species and carbohydrate supplements affecting rate of multiplication of redlegged earth mite. Exp Appl Acarol 18, 521–530 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00058935
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00058935