The predaceous mites Amblyseius chilenensis Doss~ and Amblyseius hibisci CHANT were introduced to Israel from Riverside, California. In the laboratory studies were conducted on the feeding, post-embryonic survival and oviposition rate of these mites on t7 kinds of food substances, such as mites, insects and pollen.Amblyseius chilenen,is Doss~ is widely distributed in Chile (DossE, 1958; GONZALEZ & SCHUSTEI~, 1962) and has been recorded from Japan (EHAI~A, 1966 b). Amblyseius hibisci Cm~NT occurs commonly on citrus and avocado in southern California and is also found in 3Iexico, Guatemala and Brazil (CHANT, 1959; CH.~_NT ~5 FLESCtlNER, 1960; EHARA, 1966

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The nutritional value for Amblyseius swirskii ATHIAS-HENRIOT, of eggs or crawlers of Coccus hesperidum L., Saissetia oleae (OLIVlER), S. coffeae (WALKER), Pseudococcus citrieulu~ GREEN, and P. longispinus TARG. -TOZZ, even with the addition of honeydew, was low; only a few young reached adulthood and the ovipositiort rate was negligible. However, addition of honeydew to Tetranyehus cinnabarinus BOISD. enhanced the oviposition rate of Ambtyseius swirslcii. Honeydew was a favourite food for A. swirskii, whereas the eggs and crawlers tested were not eagerly attacked and consumed. Females and males fed honeydew of Saissetia oleae mated readily and the females were inseminated, but fecundity was negligible.Amblyseius swirskii ATHIAS -HENRIOT is the dominant phytoseiid mite in the citrus orchards along the coastal plain of Israel (PORATH ~; SWIRSKI, 1965), and is common on deciduous trees in Egypt (YOUSEF & SHEHATA, 1971). It was often observed on citrus in association with various coccids and mealybugs, arid it was therefore of interest and importance to clarify the relationship among them. A laboratory study, which was conducted at Bet Dagan from September 1975 to March 1976, dealt with the effect of crawlers and honeydew on the post-embryonic and adult survival, and on mating, virility and fecundity. MATERIALS AND METHODSThe Amblyseius swirskii used in this work were obtained from a laboratory culture, about 5 years old, fed stored pollen of Carpobrotus edulis. The spider mite Tetranychus cinnabarinus BOISD. was field-collected-from sweet violet (Viola odorata) and the black scale Saissetia oleae (OLlVlZa) was collected from citrus. In laboratory rooms and green-houses the following prey-animals were reared : the brown soft scale Coccus hesperidum L. on oleander (Nerium oleander) and on squash; the hemispherical scale Saissetia coffeae (WALKER) and Green's mealybug Pseudoeoceus citriculus GREEtq on (1)