EFFICACY OF DIFFERENT PREDATORY PHYTOSEIID MITE SPECIES ALONE OR COMBINATION IN CHECKING THE TWO SPIDER MITE Tetranychus urticae KOCH UNDER LABORATORY CONDITION

The suppression of spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch populations by three different life styles phytoseiid predatory mite species, Phytoseiulus macropilis (Banks), Amblyseius californicus (McGregor) and A. cucumeris (Oudemans) was examinedto investigate their efficiency of each species either single, combined with another or with both species to control the spider mites in the laboratory on a lima bean disc.
The three predatory species showed different consumption capacities of egg and adult prey, egg production, survival of immature stages, progeny reaching adulthood, time to prey extinction and persistence after prey extinction. Phytoseiulus macropilis alone showed the highest number of eggs laid at the first day and prey egg consumption. Amblyseius californicus alone showed the highest daily eggs laid, the highest number of progeny reached adulthood and the longest survival time after the prey extinction. Even though A. cucumeris alone showed the higher number of adult prey consumption on the first day than Amblyseius californicus alone, it recorded the lowest prey egg consumption; number of eggs laid, number of progeny reached adulthood, the longest time for prey extinction and the shortest period of survival after the prey extinction. However, the shortest time required for the complete extinction of the prey population was the combination of P. macropilis with A. californicus except P. macropilis alone.