LABORATORY STUDIES ON DEVELOPMENT, LONGEVITY, FECUNDITY AND PREDATIONOF CYDNOSEIUS-NEGEVI (SWIRSKI AND AMITAI) (ACARI, PHYTOSEIIDAE) WITH 2 MITE SPECIES AS PREY

The biology of the predatory phytoseiid mire Cydnoseius negevi (Swirsk i & Amitai) as affected by feeding on individuals of the eriophyid fig mite Eriophyes ficus Cotre (Acari: Eriophyidae) and eggs of the two-s potted spider mire Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), ha d been studied in the laboratory at 27 +/- 2 degrees C, 70 % +/- 5 R. H. and 12/12 h light/dark periods. Individuals of eriophyid mites prom oted the immature st ages to develop faster than do tetranychid eggs. Total longevity was greatest on eriophyid (36.23 days) and shortest on tetranychid (29.37 days) prey. The efficiency of C. negevi increased progressively as it advanced in its development. The predator develope d faster, lived longer and reproduced successfully when fed on eriophy ids. Female predator-consumed daily 108 E. ficus and 73 eggs of T. urt icae. The predator seems to be a voracious predator of both eriophyid and tetranychid mites. The average number of eggs/female/day was 1.35 and 1.31 on eriophyid and tetranychid prey, respectively. Life table p arameters indicated thar the population of C. negevi on E. ficus and T . urticae multiplied 30.87 and 23.07 times in a generation time of 15. 04 and 19.16 days, respectively. Each injurious mire is thought to be a profitable prey species to C. negevi as a facultative predator.