Voracity and predation preference of two predators on the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari : Tetranychidae)‎

Abstract EN

Voracity and predation preference of the predatory beetle, Stethorus gilvifrons Mulsant, predatory bug, Orius albidipenis Reuter, predatory thrips, Scolothrips longicornis Priesner and predacious mites, Phytoseiulus macropilis Banks, Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot , were reared on both egg and motile stages of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch under laboratory conditions.

The daily consumption of certain predators on the stages of the prey was observed.

It prevailed that all studied predators consumed eggs more than motile stages of T.

urticae.

The daily grand mean of consumed eggs were: 41.83, 33.20, 35.87, 28.07 and 26.30 eggs, whereas the daily grand mean of consumed motile stages were: 35.37, 27.17, 31.03, 23.33 and 21.73 individuals for S.

gilvifrons, O.

albidipenis, S.

longicornis, P.

macropilis and P.

persimilis, respectively.

The predatory beetle, S.

gilvifrons was the most voracious one compared to other predators.

The predation preference was not significantly for S.

gilvifrons, whereas, O.

albidipenis and S.

longicornis were preferred egg than motile stage, while predaceous mites, P.

macropilis and P.

persimilis were preferred motile stages than egg stage of spider mites.

Results indicated that all studied predators are effective on T.

urticae stages and insectal predators preferred egg stage, while predacious mites preferred motile stages of the two-spotted spider mite.