Evaluation of the Predatory Mite against Spider Mites Damaging Rubber Trees.

The spider mites , and are severe pests of rubber trees in China. The predatory mite has been found to be a natural enemy of these three pests, while nothing is known about the biological performance of this phytoseiid predator against these phytophagous mites. In this study, the development, survivorship, reproduction, adult longevity, fecundity, sex ratio and population growth parameters of fed on these pests were evaluated in comparison to the factitious prey in the laboratory at 25 ± 1 °C, 75 ± 5% relative humidity and a 12:12 (L:D) h photoperiod. The results showed that could develop from egg to adult and reproduced successfully on the three preys. The survival rate of from egg to adult was higher when fed on (100%) and (100%) than when fed on (93.60%) and (71.42%). The shortest and longest generation time for were observed on with 6.67 d and with 12.50 d, respectively. The maximum fecundity (29.35 eggs per female) and highest intrinsic rate of increase ( = 0.226) were recorded when fed on , while feeding on gave the minimum fecundity (1.87 eggs per female) and lowest reproduction rate ( = 0.041). The values of these parameters for evaluated on were found to be comparable to those obtained on . The sex ratio of progeny on the preys mentioned above, apart from , was female biased. According to the findings, could serve as a promising biocontrol agent against and , and possibly on rubber trees.