Biology of Oligonychus yothersi (McGregor) (Acari: Tetranychidae) on avocado Persea americana Mill. cv. Lorena (Lauraceae)

The biology of the avocado red mite, Oligonychus yothersi, was studied under controlled conditions (26 +/- 3 degrees C 56 +/- 3% RH) on mature leaves of avocado, Persea americana Mill. cv. Lorena. Observations were made during a single generation. The duration of all stages except for the adult were as follows: egg 119.06 +/- 13.77 hours (4.96 days), larva 18.48 +/- 54.09 hours (2.25 days), proto-chrysalis 18.22 +/- 9.53 (0.76 days), proto-nymph 13.29 +/- 50.62 hours (2.11 days), deuto-chrysalis 21.66 +/- 7.78 hours (0.90 days), deuto-nymph 12.85 +/- 62.54 hours (2.61 days), and telio-chrysalis 13.28 +/- 30.79 hours (1.28 days). The total duration from egg to adult emergence was estimated at 344.21 hours (14.34 days). The sex ratio was 4.8 females: 1 male. The population parameters (i.e., longevity, fecundity, intrinsic rate of increase (r(m)), doubling time, and generation time) suggest a high reproductive potential and fast development rate of this mite on avocado cv. Lorena.