Two-Spotted Spider Mite Feeding in Bean Leaf Tissue of Plants Supplied Various Levels of Nitrogen

Abstract

Fecundity of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus telarius (L.), on lima bean plants was positively correlated with the level of nitrogen supplied the plants and the nitrogen content of the leaves. Cross sections of the mite-infested leaves from plants supplied each nitrogen level showed cells depleted of their contents by mites. Marked differences in the cell size and structure of leaf tissues from host plants were associated with the levels of nitrogen supply.