Food Preference, Predation Efficiency and Life Table Parameters of Euseius scutalis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) Reared on Tenuipalpus punicae and Siphoninus phillyreae under Constant Conditions

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Plant Protection Research Institute, Department of Fruit Acarology, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki 12611 Giza, Egypt

2 Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, Assiut 71526 Egypt

Abstract

The biology, life table parameters and predation efficiency of the predatory mite, Euseius scutalis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) feed Tenuipalpus punicae mobile stages and Siphoninus phillyreae eggs were tested at constant conditions (30 ± 1ºC & 65 ± 5 % R.H.). The predator completed its developmental times on both prey pests in 6.20 and 6.45 days. The mite was slightly influenced by the prey type, as when fed T. punicae mobile stages, its developmental time were shorter than preyed on S. phillyreae eggs. Whenever, the female predator fed the mite mobile stages, the finite rate of increase (λ) was higher than that on the insect eggs. The mean generation time (T) was also affected, whereas it was longer when the female preyed on S. phillyreae eggs compared with that on T. punicae mobile stages. The E. scutalis female consumed high number of insecteggs during its oviposition period and the longevity was longer in comparison with feed T. punicae mobile stages.

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