Optimizing Artificial Diet Composition for Enhanced Development and Fertility of Amblyseius swirskii

The predatory mite <i>Amblyseius swirskii</i> 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 <i>A. swirskii</i> were assessed at lab-scale. A basal diet was supplemented with eggs of <i>Sitotroga cerealella</i>, <i>Galleria mellonella</i>, <i>Tetranychus turkestani</i>, and decapsulated <i>Artemia salina</i> cysts. The feeder mite <i>Carpoglyphus lactis</i> 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 <i>S. cerealella</i> eggs, while the longest adult lifespan (10.5 ± 0.3 days) and weakest survival (38%) occurred with <i>A. salina</i>. In contrast, <i>G. mellonella</i> eggs proved to be the least suitable, resulting in minimal survival and reproduction. Study findings support <i>S. cerealella</i> and <i>A. salina</i> as promising AD components, with further optimization needed for improving reproductive output.