BIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE PREDATORY MITE, SANIOSULUS NUDUS FED WHEN FEDDING ON EGGS OF PURPLE SCALE, LEPIDOSAPHES BECKH AND DATE PALM POLLEN

The biological aspects of the predatory mite, Saniosulus nudus Summer were studied at two types of food (the purple scale, Lepidosaphes beckii (Newm.) eggs and pollen grains of the date palm). Generally, the biological aspects of the predatory mite were affected by temperature and food types. The incubation period of S. nudus was (7.57 & 6.85) and (6.0 & 5.32) days; when mite fed on eggs and pollens at 16 & 24 °C, respectively. Similar results obtained for larval, protonymphal and deutonymphal stages. Female and male bngevibes were long with feeding on eggs. While, its short with feeding on pollens at 16°C. It could be concluded that data palm pollens was more favourable diets for female and male under two constant temperatures. Female and male life span of S. nudus affected by temperature, the longest period was recorded at 16°C when fed on date palm pollens. The pre-oviposition, oviposition and post- oviposition periods for female were affected by temperature and types of food. The total number of deposited eggs/female were (129.97 & 129.1), (135.1 & 132.6) eggs with a daily rate (2.15 & 2.12) and (2.42 & 2.3) eggs at 16 & 24°C, respectively. The sex ratio also changing as temperature change. Female's percentages as (females/total) of S. nudus increased as temperature increase. The feeding capacity of S. nudus was affected by predator stage and sex. The average number and daily rate of consumed prey increase with the successive predator developmental stages. Also, the immature of female IS on greater number of prey than those of male.