Age-gender-specific functional and age-specific numerical responses of Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on two-spotted spider mite.

The phytoseiid predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) is one of the most efficient biocontrol agents in integrated pest management (IPM) programs of greenhouse pests, with different feeding habits on pollen, thrips, eriophyiids, and spider mites. This study appraised the effect of the age and gender on functional response and age on numerical response of N. californicus fed on larvae and protonymph of Tetranychus urticae Koch under laboratory conditions at 25 ± 1 ℃, 70 ± 5% RH and a photoperiod of 16L: 8D h. In the functional response test, the 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128 densities of prey were offered to 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40-day-old ages of female and 7, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30-day-old ages of male individuals of N. californicus. The logistic regression was used to recognize the type of functional response. Type II functional response was recognized for all ages of the male and female individuals of N. californicus. The highest predation rate, and searching efficiency (a) was observed in the middle ages of the predator. A significant increase in oviposition was shown with increasing T. urticae density and increasing ages of the predator. Furthermore, in the middle age with low prey density, the efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI) was the highest. The results of this study showed that the different ages of N. californicus are influencing factors on its predation capacity and oviposition rate.