Abstract

The predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilisAthias- Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is an effective biological control agent of Tetranychus urticae. In this study biological and reproductive parameters as well as predation rate of the predator preying on the eggs of Tetranychus urticae were evaluated. Experimental condition was (25 °C, 75± 5 RH and 16 L: 8D). 30 same-aged eggs of the predatory mite were transferred into cages and survival, stage, and reproduction were recorded every 24 hours. Data were analyzed using Age-stage, two-sex life table software. Daily consumption of each stage, males and females were recorded and the predation rates were analyzed using SPSS. Intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), net reproductive rate (R₀), gross reproductive rate (GRR) and mean generation time (T) were 0.297 (day^-1), 1.346 (day^-1), 46.79 (offspring/individual), 57.53 (offspring) and 12.91 (days), respectively. Developmental times of egg, larva, protonymph, deutonymph and adults were 1.68, 1.00, 1.21, 1,54 and 38.38 days, respectively. Total preoviposition period (TPOP), adult preoviposition period (APOP) and female fecundity were 5.83days, 0.5days and 72.78 eggs, respectively. Predation rate were 3.80 eggs for protonymph and 6.95 eggs for deutonymph. Average daily predation rates were 3.19 and 20.55 eggs for male and female, respectively. Total predation rates were 110.44 and 668.92 eggs for male and female, respectively.