EFFECT OF PREY SPECIES ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND FECUNDITY OF THE TWO PREDACEOUS MITES, COSMOLAELAPS PARAVACUA AND STRATIOLAELAPS MILES

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Giza, Dokki, Egypt

Abstract

Cosmolaelaps paravacua Nasr and Nawar and Stratiolaelaps miles (Evans) were found in organic manure on the farm at Giza. The duration of their developmental stages and reproduction were determined. Cos­molaelaps paravacua was fed, developed and reproduced on the free-living nematode, Rhabditis scanica, acarid mite, Rhizoglyphus robini Clap­arede and Cotton leaf worm Spodoptera littoralis (Biosd.). Acarid mite resulting in the greatest reproduction for the former, and the free living nematode was the best for both.