Life Table and Predation Capacity of Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) Feeding on Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) on Rose

Abstract

The life history and predation rate were determined for all stages of female and male of Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot fed on the eggs of Tetranychus urticae Koch ˗ ˗˗ ˗ as the preferred prey-stage ˗ ˗˗ ˗ on rose (cv ‘blarodje’) leaf discs under laborator y conditions at 25±1°C, 75±5% RH, and 16 L: 8 D hour photoperiod. Ac cording to the age-stage, two-sex life table model, the intrinsic rate of increase (r ), finite rate of increase ( λ ), net Reproductive rate (R 0 ), Gross Reproductive Rate (GRR), and mean generati on Time (T) were 0.296 d -1 , 1.345 d -1 , 33.48 offspring, 53.87 offspring and 11.83 d, res pectively. Moreover, average number of T. urticae eggs consumed by different stages/sexes of P. persimilis was calculated based on the age-stage, two-sex lif e table model and indicated that the consumption rates increased from nymph to adult in both sexes. Also, our results showed that females consumed prey eggs 11 times mor e than males. The net predation rate (C 0 ) and transformation rate from prey population to p redator offspring (Q p ) were 363.54 mite eggs and 10.86, respectively. The resul ts showed that P. persimilis can successfully survive and reproduce on T. urticae eggs on rose. Keywords: Consumption rate, Intrinsic rate of increase, Life history, Predatory mite, Two- spotted spider mite.