Effect of Leaf age of Cassava, Manihot esculenta on Development and Biological Performance of
Mononychellus tanajoa Bondar and Oligonychus gossypii (Acarina, Tetranychidae)

DOI:36108/NJE/2002/91.0180

ORAKPOR, F.A., IGBINOSA, I.B.; and IHEAGWAM, F.U

ABSTRACT: Oviposited eggs of Monoychellus tanajoa and Oligonychus gossypii were incubated in groups of thirty on young or mature leaves of cassava. Upon hatching, the larvae were restricted to feed on either the young or mature leaves of cassava plants. Total development (egg – adult) were 8.67 days and 9.55 days for M. tanajoa fed young and mature leaves respectively while it was 8.91 and 8.85 days for O. gossypii fed young and mature leaves respectively. Mean fecundity of female M. tanajoa fed young leaves was 16.85 eggs per female while those females fed mature leaves was 12.34 eggs per female. On the other hand, female O. gossypii fed mature leaves produced 16.68 eggs per female. The differences in these values were statistically significant at P <0.05 Longevity of the female mites was also affected by the age of the leaves being 8.04 days and 6.16 days for M. tanajoa fed young and mature leaves respectively. O. gossypii on the other hand lived for 7.16 days and 8.64 days when fed young and mature leaves respectively.

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