REPRODUCTIVE RESPONSES OF IPHISEIUS-DEGENERANS AND NEOSEIULUS-TEKE (ACARI, PHYTOSEIIDAE) TO CHANGES IN THE DENSITY OF THE CASSAVA GREEN MITE, MONONYCHELLUS-TANAJOA (ACARI, TETRANYCHIDAE)

We assessed the reproductive responses of adult female Iphiseius degen erans and Neoseiulus teke to increasing density of three stages of the ir prey, Mononychellus tanajoa, on cassava leaf discs under laboratory conditions. The oviposition rates increased with number of prey consu med per predator per day with a maximum of approximately two eggs per day for I. degenerans and four eggs per day for N. teke. The ovipositi on rate of N. teke was higher when consuming eggs than other prey stag es. Neoseiulus teke was more efficient than I. degenerans in convertin g consumed prey into egg production. The data were adequately describe d by simple mathematical models.