Effect of different varieties of litchi on the development and reproduction of Oligonychus biharensis (Hirst)

The development, longevity and reproduction of Oligonychus biharensis on four different cultivars of litchi were studied in the laboratory. The total mortality rates from egg to adult on Feizixiao, Baitangying, Ziniangxi and Sanyuehong were respectively 37.27%, 32.45%, 25.52% and 17.32%. The developmental periods from egg to adult varied from 16.97 days on Sanyuehong to 21.05 days on Feizixiao. The average longevity of adult females ranged from 19.72 days on Sanyuehong to 27.01 days on Baitangying, while the oviposition of O. biharensis varied from 68.80 eggs on Baitnagying to 34.00 eggs on Sanyuehong. The daily ovipositon rate of O. biharensis varied from 5.29 eggs on Baitnagying to 1.76 eggs on Feizixiao. The net reproductive rate of increase (R0), intrinsic rates of natural increase (rm) and finite rate of increase (λ) for O. bicharensis on Baitangying were the highest; the three life table parameters (R0, rm and λ) of Oligonychus biharensis on Feizixiao were the lowest. According to the parameters mentioned above, Baitangying litchi was the most suitable host plant and Feizixiao was the most unsuitable host plant for O. biharensis in this study.