The adaptive canalization hypothesis predicts that traits with low phenotypic plasticity are more fitness relevant, because they have been canalized via strong past selection, than traits with high phenotypic plasticity. Based on differing male body size plasticities of the predatory mites Phytoseiulus persimilis (low plasticity) and Neoseiulus californicus (high plasticity), we accordingly hyp...

Life history theory predicts that females should produce few large eggs under food stress and many small eggs when food is abundant. We tested this prediction in three female-biased size-dimorphic predatory mites feeding on herbivorous spider mite prey: Phytoseiulus persimilis, a specialized spider mite predator; Neoseiulus californicus, a generalist preferring spider mites; Amblyseius anderson...

Tetranychus urticae is one of the most important pests of strawberry cultures in Morocco. Current control of this pest relies almost exclusively on acaricides. Unfortunately, this mite has developed resistance to most of the available acaricides. Moreover, insecticide treatments are responsible for the reduction or suppression of beneficial species such as natural predators. Thus, identificatio...

The life history and predation rate were determined for all stages of female and male of Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot fed on the eggs of Tetranychus urticae Koch ˗ as the preferred prey-stage ˗ on rose (cv ‘blarodje’) leaf discs under laboratory conditions at 25±1°C, 75±5% RH, and 16 L: 8 D hour photoperiod. According to the age-stage, two-sex life table model, the intrinsic rate of i...

Polyandry is more widespread than anticipated from Bateman's principle but its ultimate (evolutionary) causes and proximate (mechanistic) correlates are more difficult to pinpoint than those of polygyny. Here, we combined mating experiments, quantification of reproductive traits and microsatellite genotyping to determine the fitness implications of polyandry in two predatory mite species, where...