Potential of Neoseiulus californicus (Mc-Gregor) as a Biocontrol Agent of Panonychus citri (Mc-Gregor) (Phytoseiidae-Tetranychidae)

Abstract

The life history and predation rate of the predatory mite, Neoseiulus californicus (Mc-Gregor) on the citrus red mite, Panonychus citri (Mc-Gregor) were studied under laboratory conditions at 25°C and 60-70% R.H. All movable stages of the predator were able to devour all different stages of P. citri. Average consumption rates of eggs, larvae, protonymphs, deutonymphs and adult males and females of P. citri by the predator larva were 0.8 ±0.71, 0.7 ±0.32, 0.5 ±0.40, 0.3 ±0.23, 0.2 ±0.10 and 0.3 ±0.23 prey individuals, respectively. These values increased with predator development from protonymph to adult. The predator adult female devoured 7.8 ±1.12, 7.5 ±0.86, 5.0±1.30, 3.7 ±0.86, 2.5±3.20 and 5.1 ±0.86 prey individuals; while those for male were 5.5 ±0.72, 5.5 ±0.86, 4.3 ±1.40, 3.6 ±0.86, 3.0 ±2.4 and 4.0 ±0.86 prey individuals for the previous prey stages, respectively. Thus, the predator adult female ate more than any other stage. In addition, the eggs and larvae, compared to other stages of P. citri, were the most consumed by all different predator stages; this raised the predator fecundity unlike the adult stage of the prey. Predation rate, life cycle, and oviposition periods varied depending on prey stages. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm) was higher on prey immatures and eggs than on prey adult females, which were 0.149, 0.092 and 0.042, respectively. Results indicated the effectiveness of N. californicus as an important biological control agent against P. citri.