LIFE HISTORY OF THE PREDATORY MITE, PHYTOSEIULUS MACROPILIS (BANKS) FED ON TWO TETRANYCHID MITE SPECIES (ACARI: PHYTOSEIIDAE: TETRANYCHIDAE)

Abstract

: Developmental duration, consumption rate and reproduction of Phytoseiulus macropilis (Banks) on two tetranychid mites, Tetranychus cucurbitacearum (Sayed) and Eotetranychus zacheri Zaher, Gomaa and El-Enany were studied under laboratory conditions of 25±2ºC and 55±5% R.H.. Females of P. macropilis fed and complete its development on the previous prey. Life cycle was completed in sub equal times, 7.15 and 7.40 days when it fed on both prey, respectively. Life span of the predatory female lasted 23.96 and 22.84 days when fed on T. cucurbitacearum and E. zacheri, respectively. The female longevity elongated when fed on T. cucurbitacearum compared with E. zacheri whereas, lasted 16.81 and 15.44 days, respectively. Conclusively, Tetranychus cucurbitacearum and the Tetranychid mites, Life history.