The Biology and Predation Rate of Predatory Mite, Neoseiulus longispinosus Evans (Acari: Phytoseiidae), on Its Prey Tetranychus kanzawai Kishida (Acari: Tetranychidae).

Abstract

Predatory mite, Neoseiulus longispinosus Evans (Acari: Phytoseiidae), is a potensial predator of a polyphagous spider mite, Tetranychus kanzawai Kishida (Acari: Tetranychidae). Research was conducted to study the biological characteristics of N. longispinosus, including the life table, life cycle, fecundity,functional response, numerical response, prey prefference, and the ability of individual predatory mite in suppressing the prey population. The study revealed that the life cycle of N. longispinosus was short, i. e. 3.23 days. The oviposition period was 8.76 days with maximum daily egg production was 4 eggs/female/day when the predatory mite was 6 days old. When fed with T. kanzawai, the intrinsic rate of increase (rm) of N. longispinosus was 0.44, mean generation time (T) was 4.05 days, and ner reproduction rate (R0) was 24.96 individuals. Neoseiulus longispinosus showed a type III functional response. Fecundity of N. longispinosus would increase when the prey population increased; so the numerical response of N. longispinosus was direct response. Neoseiulus longispinosus preffered to consume eggs than the other stages of T. kanzawai.