Macrocheles mammifer

K, Jiawei Zhu, CuiK, Xiangxin, YangK, Jian, LinK, Xingming, YanK, Yi, CaiK, Ducheng & K, Jinhua Li, 2023, Functional response of two soil-dwelling predatory mites, Macrocheles mammifer (Berlese) (Acari: Macrochelidae), and Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Womersley) (Acari: Laelapidae), on thrips Megalurothrips usitatus (Bagnall) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), Acarologia 63 (4), pp. 1039-1047 : 1042-1043

Predation of Macrocheles mammifer and Stratiolaelaps scimitus

The predation of M. mammifer and S. scimitus significantly increased with increasing density of thrips pupae ( M. mammifer female: P <0.0001; M. mammifer protonymph: P <0.0001; S. scimitus female: P <0.0001; S. scimitus protonymph: P <0.0001), and the females of both M. mammifer and S. scimitus consumed more thrips than counterpart protonymphs. The predation of M. mammifer adult and S. scimitus adult showed no significant difference at low densities (density of 3 and 5, the corresponding P values are 0.862 and 0.297, respectively). However,

the predation rate of M. mammifer adult was significantly higher than that of S. scimitus adult at densities greater than 10 P (<0.0001). The actual maximum number of thrips killed by one S. scimitus female and protonymph was 7.13 and 3.33, respectively, and the actual maximum number of thrips consumed by one M. mammifer female and protonymph was 9.46 and 3.53, respectively (Fig 2).

Predator and stage Type Parameters Estimate SE Z P> | Z|

Macrocheles mammifer Adult female II Linear (b) -0.1211 0.0104 -11.575 <0.0001

Macrocheles mammifer protonymph II Linear (b) -0.1871 0.0287 -6.4994 <0.0001

Stratiolaelaps scimitus Adult female II Linear (b) -0.1189 0.01 -11.889 <0.0001

Stratiolaelaps scimitus protonymph II Linear (b) -0.1312 0.028 -4.6736 <0.0001