NON-PREY FOOD FOR SUBSISTENCE OF AMBLYSEIUS-IDAEUS (ACARI, PHYTOSEIIDAE) ON CASSAVA IN AFRICA

The nutritional effects of pollen from cassava, oil palm, castor bean, Leucaena leucocephala and a phloem exudate from cassava were tested i n the laboratory for their effect on survivorship and oviposition of A mblyseius idaeus (Denmark & Muma). Survival and longevity of even-aged females were enhanced on the aforementioned non-prey diets when compa red with the control of no food. Castor bean pollen provided sufficien t nutrition to induce an irregular and low ovipositional rate of A. id aeus over a five week interval. Oviposition ceased after 48 h in the p resence of the other non-prey foods or free-water only. These studies suggest that A. idaeus is capable of switching or supplementing its di et with non-prey foods during periods when spider mite populations are low.