DISTRIBUTION OF NEOSEIULUS-CUCUMERIS (ACARINA, PHYTOSEIIDAE) AND ITS PREY, THRIPS-PALMI (THYSANOPTERA, THRIPIDAE) WITHIN EGGPLANTS IN SOUTHFLORIDA

The distribution of the predacious mite Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans ) and its prey, Thrips palmi Karny, was studied in eggplant plots in H omestead, Florida. Neoseiulus cucumeris was more abundant on fruits (( X) over bar = 3.39 +/- 0.20) than on leaves ((X) over bar = 0.95 +/- 0 .16) and it was not found in the flowers. Thrips palmi was more abunda nt on the leaves ((X) over bar = 17.97 +/- 5.07) than on the fruits (X ) over bar = 3.22 +/- 0.70) and flowers ((X) over bar = 0.93 +/- 0.03) . Predacious mite populations on the fruits and leaves increased with T. palmi populations increase. Both predator and prey populations were low on the youngest leaf ((X) over bar(predator) = 0.00 +/- 0.00; (X) over bar(prey) = 1.75 +/- 0.28) and high on the oldest leaf((X) over bar(predator) = 1.92 +/- 0.79; (X) over bar(prey) = 50.83 +/- 11.64). Neoseiulus cucumeris and T. palmi were more abundant on the adaxial su rface of the leaf((X) over bar(N. cucumeris) = 1.58 +/- 0.56; (X) over bar(T. palmi) = 42.77 +/- 8.29). Predators aggregated mostly on the a daxial base of the midrib vein. The fourth leaf is recommended for pop ulation sampling studies because the predators aggregate at the base o f the adaxial midrib and T. palmi population levels are not extreme on that leaf.