Die invloed van temperatuur en vog op die lewensiklus van 'n spesie van die mytgenus Caloglyphus [Acari]

Abstract

This study was undertaken to determine the optimum conditions for the survival of Caloglyphus sp. with regard to air temperature and groundnut moisture content. The values of the temperatures and moisture contents selected for the experiment were 15° , 20°, 25 ° , 30° and 3S°C, and 9%, 11%, 13%, 15% and 17% respectively. During the successive stages of the experiment the different species of fungi encountered in the vials were noted and tabulated. The relationship between the fungi and Caloglyphus sp. is discussed. The optimum combination of temperature and groundnut moisture content probably is 15°C/15% moisture. Other combinations which also favoured the survival of the mites are: 20°/13%, 25° C/17% and 2S°C/11%. It is suggested that an experiment should be conducted to cover a period longer than the six weeks covered in the present study.