Predatory potential of predatory mites Amblyseius indicus and Amblyseius tetranychivorus (Acarina: Phytoseiidae) on different densities of Tetranychus neocaledonicus Andre population on brinjal

Abstract

The present experiment was conducted to study the predatory potentiality of predatory mites Amblyseius indicus Narayanan & Kaur and Amblyseius tetranychivorus Gupta on the all stages of phytophagous mite Tetranychus neocaledonicus Andre on brinjal host plant. The trials were conducted in CRD with five treatments with the predator - prey ratio of 1:10, 1:15, 1:20, 1:25, and 1:30. Both the predators proved effective in curbing the phytophagous mite population with the rate of predation rising with the prey density. The most effective predator-prey ratio was 1:20 and 1:25 for both species of mite predators and linear increasing trend was noticed till 1:25 ratio after which the predation rate decreased at 1:30 ratio. The predators consumed more number of eggs of T. neocaledonicus followed by larvae and then adult stage.