EUROPEAN EARWIG, FORFICULA AURICULARIA L. (DERMAPTERA, FORFICULIDAE),AS A PREDATOR OF THE REDLEGGED EARTH MITE, HALOTYDEUS DESTRUCTOR (TUCKER) (ACARINA, PENTHALEIDAE)

The European earwig, Forficula auricularia L., consumed the redlegged earth mite, Halotydeus destructor (Tucker), under laboratory condition s. Although female earwigs consumed more mites at the lowest density o f 25 mites per petri dish, there was no difference between males and f emales at the two higher densities of 50 and 75 mites per dish. The ad dition of vermiculite to the dish to simulate habitat diversity had a negative impact on the consumption rate.