BIOLOGY OF A STRAIN OF NEOSEIULUS-IDAEUS (ACARI, PHYTOSEIIDAE) FROM SOUTHWEST BRAZIL

The biology of a strain of Neoseiulus idaeus Denmark & Muma from Carap o, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, was studied on two tetranychid prey, M ononychellus tanajoa (Bondar) and Tetranychus urticae Koch, at 25+/-1- degrees-C and 80+/-10% RH. The intrinsic rate of increase (r(m)) was c onsiderably higher on T. urticae than on M. tanajoa (0.214 and 0.139, respectively). N. idaeus had lower total fecundity and net reproductiv e rate and higher mean generation time and sex ratio when the prey was M. tanajoa. Eggs of N. idaeus from Carapo were considerably more susc eptible to low humidity levels than eggs of populations of N. idaeus o riginating from drier areas in northeastern Brazil.