Interaction between biological aspects of <em>Tetranychus urticae</em> Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) and some chemical composition in two colored <em>Acalypha wilkesiana</em> Müll. Arg. (Malpighiales: Euphorbiaceae) leaves

Abstract

Acalypha wilkesiana is considered a great tool for rearing Tetranychus urticae in the laboratory; it has two colors of leaves i.e., green and red. The leaf pigment content and some chemical properties were observed in this study to examine the correlation between the biology of T. urticae and the physio-biochemical features of the green and red leaves of A. wilkesiana. Results showed that T. urticae individuals achieved faster growth and a greater number of eggs deposited by females when feeding on A. wilkesiana with greener leaves, which contained higher levels of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a and b, and total carotenoids). There was a significant positive correlation (P ≤ 0.05) between T. urticae female hatchability, egg deposited/female, and daily rate with contents of total carbohydrate, total carotenoids, soluble sugars, chlorophyll a, and chlorophyll b. For male biology, there was a significant positive correlation (P ≤ 0.05) between T. urticae male life span, immature stages, and life cycle with contents of total phenols, and anthocyanin. These results indicated the role of chemical components of Acalypha leaves in the biological aspects of T. urticae.

Keywords

• Acalypha wilkesiana
• biological aspects
• correlations
• leaf chemical analysis
• two-spotted spider mite