EFFECT OF CASSAVA EXUDATE AND PREY DENSITIES ON THE SURVIVAL AND REPRODUCTION OF TYPHLODROMALUS-LIMONICUS (GARMAN-AND-MCGREGOR) SL (ACARI, PHYTOSEIIDAE), A PREDATOR OF THE CASSAVA GREEN MITE, MONONYCHELLUS-TANAJOA (BONDAR) (ACARI, TETRANYCHIDAE)

The effects of cassava exudate and prey densities on reproduction and survival of the predatory mite, Typhlodromalus limonicus (Garman & McG regor) (Acari: Phytoseiidae), were investigated in die laboratory. Fem ales were provided either cassava exudate ad lib. daily, low or high n umbers of the cassava green mite prey, Mononychellus tanajoa (Bondar) (Acari: Tetranychidae) daily, or exudate for 5 or 10 days before switc hing to a low or high prey diet. Females fed only exudate laid no eggs . Females fed exudate before prey experienced a significant decrease ( 30%) in the number of eggs laid compared to females fed high numbers o f prey daily. The reduction in fecundity was the result of prolonged p reoviposition periods (2.0 days on prey daily vs 4.0 days on exudate b efore prey) and reduced number of eggs laid per female per day (1.7 eg gs per female per day on prey daily vs 0.4 eggs per female per day on exudate before prey). Females fed only exudate had a greater survival rate and longevity than females fed prey daily or females fed exudate before a diet of prey. These results suggest that T limonicus can surv ive for a limited period on cassava exudate during periods of low prey availability, but requires prey to complete oogenesis and propagate t he population.