Optimizing Artificial Diet Composition for Enhanced Development and Fertility of Amblyseius swirskii
Alpysbayeva K. Adilkhankyzy A. Seitzhan A. Anuarbekov K. Naimanova B. Turbekova S.
November 2025Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Insects
2025#16Issue 11
The predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii is widely used as a biological control agent against phloem-feeding pests in vegetable production. However, its mass rearing is constrained by the lack of standardized and cost-effective artificial diets (ADs). In this study, the effects of various AD compositions on the development and viability of A. swirskii were assessed at lab-scale. A basal diet was supplemented with eggs of Sitotroga cerealella, Galleria mellonella, Tetranychus turkestani, and decapsulated Artemia salina cysts. The feeder mite Carpoglyphus lactis served as a control. Developmental duration, survival, adult longevity, feeding intensity, and fertility were evaluated. The shortest pre-imaginal development (2.9 ± 0.1 days) and highest survival (78%) were observed on S. cerealella eggs, while the longest adult lifespan (10.5 ± 0.3 days) and weakest survival (38%) occurred with A. salina. In contrast, G. mellonella eggs proved to be the least suitable, resulting in minimal survival and reproduction. Study findings support S. cerealella and A. salina as promising AD components, with further optimization needed for improving reproductive output.
artificial diet , biological plant protection , insect eggs , mass rearing , phytoseiid mites
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Department of Biological Plant Protection, Kazakh Research Institute of Plant Protection and Quarantine Named After Zh. Zhiembaev, Kultobe 1, Almaty, 050070, Kazakhstan
Department of Water Resources and Land Reclamation, Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, Abay 8, Almaty, 050010, Kazakhstan
Department of Biological Plant Protection
Department of Water Resources and Land Reclamation
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