EFFECTS OF PREY MITES AND POLLEN ON THE BIOLOGY AND LIFE-TABLES OF PROPRIOSEIOPSIS-ASETUS (CHANT) (ACARI, PHYTOSEIIDAE)

Biology of the phytoseiid mite Proprioseiopsis asetus was studied unde r laboratory conditions. Egg hatchability was tested at three differen t combinations of temperature and relative humidity. A combination of 26 degrees C and 70% RH was the most suitable condition. The number of citrus brown mite Eutetranychus orientalis (Klein) consumed by P. ase tus adult females significantly decreased when date palm pollen Pheone x dactylefira L. was added to prey mite and egg production significant ly increased. Total developmental time of P. asetus ranged between 3.2 5 and 5.33 days for males and between 3.83 and 5.46 days for females a t 26 degrees C. The percentage of female progeny in the total populati on ranged between 52% and 57%. A diet of E. orientalis resulted in the shortest generation time (T = 12.49 day), the shortest adult female l ongevity (27.25 day), the highest net reproductive rate (R-0 = 35.15 e xpected progeny per female), the highest intrinsic rate of natural inc rease (r(m) = 0.28) and also finite rate of increase (e(r)m = 1.33) pe r day. Diet of prey mite T. urticae provided the longest adult female longevity (33.08 days) and T. urticae or P. dactylefire pollen provide d very close life table parameters of P. asetus. Broad mite Polyphagot arsonemus latus was the least favourable food source with results of T = 16.89 days; R-0 = 21.02 female progeny per female; r(m) = 0.18 and e(r)m = 1.19 per day.