Laboratory trials to evaluate the effecacy of the predatory mite species Euseius metwally; and Typhlodromips capsIcum as a biological control agents against the two -spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae (acari: phytoseiidae: tetranychidae) [electronic resource].

Includes reference.

Some biological data of the phytoseiid mite species Euse;us mefwa/lyi Basha & Yousef and TyphlodromifJS capsicum Mostafa were investigated to evaluate their ability in controlling the two-spotted spider mite, Tefranychus urticae Koch under laboratory conditions of 29:!:3·C and 73:!:5 % R.H. Adult females of the two predatory mite species were provided daily during their adulthood with constant number of T. urticae adult females (5 preysl predator female). It was noticed tnat, both phytoseiid species fed well and successfully reproduce on the Introduced prey, with significant differences in their longevity, fecundity and prey COl1lUl11Ption rates. T. capsicum has significantly longer longevity compared to E. metwallyi. These values averaged 18.5 and 13.55 days for the former and later species, respectively. Adutt females of T. capsicum showed higher fecundity, where they deposited a significantly greater number of eggs (17.67 eggs) during a significantly longer oviposition period (14.33 days) with a daily mean of 1.33 eggs. On the other hand, E. mefwallyi adult females continued depositing eggs for a shorter oviposition period averaged 11.17 days, where they laid a total average of 12.33 eggs, with a daily men amount of 1.11 eggs. Adult females of T. capsicum showed higher rate of predation dUring adulthood, where thoy attacked a significantly greater number of 63.00 preys as a total average with a significantly greatar daily mean of 3.41 preys. For E. metwa/lyi adult females, these values were 41.5 and 2.71 preys, respectively. Average daily prey consumption and oviposition rates of both phytoseiid species during their longevity were discussed also. Generally, these results indicated thet, both E. metwa/lyi and T. capsicum may be considered as biological control agents against the two-spotted spider mite T. urticae but the former species was more efficient predator against the investigated prey pest. Keywords: Phyloseiidae, Euseius

Summary in Arabic.

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