Biology and life table of the red spider mite Tetranychus bastosi on physic nut

The objective of this work was to determine the biology and life table of Tetranychus bastosi on physic nut (Jatropha curcas). The experiment was carried out under controlled conditions at 26ºC and 75% RH, with photophase of 12 hours. The eggs used in the experiments were obtained from stock culture. Evaluations were performed twice a day for the biology of the mite, and once a day for reproductive parameters. The average life cycle of females was 9.63 days and that of males was 8.94 days. The sex ratio was 0.65, and the mean longevity of females was 16 days, with average production of 59 eggs per female. The life table parameters obtained were: liquid reproduction rate (Ro), 45.41 individuals; average generation length (T), 12.66 days; intrinsic growth rate (rm), 0.0538 female per female per day; finite growth rate (λ), 1.023 female per female; and time required for doubling the population (TD), 3.15 days. The spider mite T. bastosi develops well and presents a high reproductive potential on leaves of physic nut.