Evaluation of feeding preference and potential of phytoseiid predatory mite Neoseiulus longispinosus (Evans) on different stages of Tetranychus macfarlanei baker & pritchard

The prey stage preference and feeding potential of active stages of the predatory mite Neoseiulus longispinosus (Evans) were studied under laboratory condition 23±1°C to 28±1°C and 70-80% RH using lifestages of Tetranychus macfarlanei (Baker and Pritchard). Prey stage preference was studied by providing known number of prey stages together on a leaf bit where, larva of predator did not consume any prey stage. Protonymph and deutonymph exhibited preference towards larval and nymphal stages of the prey whereas, adult predator showed preference for larval stage followed by eggs and nymphal stages. In feeding potential study, predator was offered prey stages individually. Protonymph and deutonymph consumed 2.40 and 4.00 eggs, 3.40 and 4.70 larvae, 1.60 and 3.20 nymphs and 0.20 and 0.20 adults of the prey, respectively and the adult predator consumed a mean of 159.00 eggs, 171.60 larvae, 94.20 nymphs and 19.20 adults of prey in its lifespan.