Development, Fecundity, and Prey Consumption of Four Species of Predacious Mites (Phytoseiidae) at Two Constant Temperatures1

Abstract

Fecundity and development of the predatory mites Galendromus longipilis (Nesbitt), Neoseiulus fallacis (Garman), Phytoseiulus macropilis (Banks), Proprioseiopsis temperellus (Muma and Denmark) (Acarina: Phytoseiidae) and the prey, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Tetranychidae) was studied at 13.3° and 26.4°C. All predators developed faster then T. urticae . N. fallacis had the shortest development time and one of the highest oviposition rates of the predators at both temperatures, followed by G. longipilis . P. temperellus required the most prey, consuming 48.2 T. urticae eggs/day at 26.4°C. On restricted universes, G. longipilis and N. fallacis controlled high T. urticae populations within 11 days after introduction. T. urticae was not controlled by P. temperellus on the universe and appeared to be unsuitable as prey for this species.