Damage effect of two storage mites (Acari: Acaridida) and their biology on the Shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes) at three constant temperatures

This study aims to estimate the influence of three constant temperatures (20, 25 and 30°C) on the damage effect, population growth, life cycle and longevity of two stored-product mites (Tyrophagus putrescentiae and Aleuroglyphus ovatus) reared on the dried Shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes) at 80% relative humidity (r.h.) and 14:10 (L:D) h (light: dark) photoperiod. The weight loss of the Shiitake mushroom caused by T. putrescentiae and A. ovatus increased with increasing temperature. The increase in the count of T. putrescentiae and A. ovatus in the rearing cells led to noticeable decrease in the weight of the Shiitake mushroom. The results indicated that T. putrescentiae was more harmful than A. ovatus on the Shiitake mushroom. The r-values of both mite species increased with increase in temperature up to 25°C, whereas the value of r decreased when the temperature increased to 30°C. At 20, 25 and 30°C, the values of r were 0.167, 0.182 and 0.159 for T. putrescentiae and 0.126, 0.140 and 0.115 for A. ovatus, respectively. The developmental time of immature stages, reproductive periods and female longevity of T. putrescentiae and A. ovatus were adversely affected by the increase in temperature. The life cycle of T. putrescentiae varied from 9.26 to 20.64 days and that of A. ovatus ranged from 11.65 to 25.21 days when the temperature increased from 20 to 30°C. The longest longevity of T. putrescentiae and A. ovatus (38.37 and 48.18 days) was recorded at 20°C, whereas the shortest (20.38 and 28.40 days) was found at 30°C. The results showed that T. putrescentiae had lower developmental time and reproductive periods than A. ovatus when reared on the Shiitake mushroom at all the studied temperatures.