Comparative biological parameters of the predatory mites, <i>Amblyseius swirskii</i> Athias-Henriot and <i>Euseius scutalis</i> (Athias-Henriot) on the invasive pest <i>Eutetranychus orientalis</i> (Klein)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the biological features and life table parameters of Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot and Euseius scutalis (Athias-Henriot) collected from the same citrus ecosystem, on Eutetranychus orientalis (Klein) under laboratory conditions (25 & DEG;C and 70 & PLUSMN; 5% RH). Results revealed that total mean developmental times of A. swirskii and E. scutalis were 7.24 and 7.45 days for females, and 6.54 and 7.02 days for males, respectively. The preoviposition, oviposition, postoviposition periods and total adult longevity of predatory mite species were 2.41, 20.93, 2.57 and 25.92 days for A. swirskii and 2.34, 20.23, 2.58 and 25.15 days for E. scutalis, respectively. Daily (oviposition) and total mean numbers of eggs laid by A. swirskii were 2.09 and 43.16, by E. scutalis were 1.59 and 31.85, respectively. The intrinsic rate of increase (r(m)), net reproduction rate (R-o) and mean generation time (T-o) were 0.219, 28.65 and 15.28 days for A. swirskii, and 0.189, 21.18 and 6.15 days for E. scutalis, respectively. In general, biological parameters of A. swirskii were better than those of E. scutalis when fed on E. orientalis. It was concluded that both predatory mite species A. swirskii and E. scutalis could complement each other in controlling the target pest E. orientalis in citrus ecosystem.