Acarological Society of Iran Persian Journal of Acarology 2251-8169 13 2 2025 12 01 Life table parameters and predation rate of Neoseiulus californicus(Acari: Phytoseiidae)feeding on Panonychus citriand Eutetranychus orientalis(Acari: Tetranychidae) 265 282 238205 10.22073/pja.v13i2.83614 EN Aya Gazoly Zoology and Agricultural Nematology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt Abd-Allah M. Afifi Zoology and Agricultural Nematology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt Fatma S. Ali Zoology and Agricultural Nematology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt Mahmoud M. Ahmed Zoology and Agricultural Nematology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt Journal Article This study aimed 1) to investigate the effect of two citrus mites, Panonychus citri (McGregor) and Eutetranychus orientalis (Klein) as food on the biological parameters of Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor), and 2) to evaluate the effect of three factors (temperature with two levels (T), diet type with four levels (P) and density of diet with five levels (D)) on predation and reproduction rate of N. californicus alone, as well as the interactions between them, using factorial design with general linear model. From the results, feeding the predatory mite, N. californicus on mobile stages of P. citri caused a significant reduction in the pre-adult and adult longevity periods of females (4.96 and 24.22 days), respectively. Significant increase in the total fecundity (34 eggs/female) over an oviposition period of 14 days compared to feeding on E. orientalis was observed. Also, the values of the intrinsic rate of increase (rm) and the finite rate of increase (λ) parameters were higher, and at the same time, the generation time (T) and doubling time (DT) were shorter when the predator fed on P. citri mobile stages than E. orientalis. Using a factorial design with general linear model, the predation rate of N. californicus and the daily number of eggs deposited by female were significantly (p < 0.01) affected by the three factors: temperature (T), diet type (P), and density of diet (D) alone, and with interaction between them. The high fecundity, short generation time, and moderate rm of population of N. californicus in addition to being better adapted to high temperatures indicate significant potential as an effective biological control agent for the two citrus mites, P. citri and E. orientalis attacking citrus orchards. Results are necessarily being considered in pest management decisions.

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