Data from: Black nightshade's role in population development of tomato russet mite (Aculops lycopersici)

The datasets contain the raw data used in the study that investigated the role of the black nightshade (Solanum nigrum), a globally widespread weed, as an alternative host for tomato russet mite (Aculops lycopersici) and its implications for pest dynamics. The development time, survival rate, and reproductive parameters of TRM were compared between tomato and black nightshade. While TRM developed more rapidly and exhibited higher survival rates on tomato, black nightshade supported higher fecundity and a greater proportion of female offspring. These findings suggest that black nightshade can act as a viable host of TRM. Further experiments evaluated the adaptability of TRM populations to switch between tomato and black nightshade. No significant fitness costs were observed when populations were transferred between these hosts, indicating high adaptability. Additionally, we assessed the colonization potential of TRM on hosts in three different plant families, including pepper, field bindweed, petunia, tobacco, and white goosefoot.