Acarological Society of Iran Persian Journal of Acarology 2251-8169 11 2 2025 12 01 Suitability of threeeriophyid mites as prey for the predatory mite,Typhlodromus athiasae(Acari: Phytoseiidae) 295 307 238546 10.22073/pja.v11i2.72739 EN Shimaa F. Fahim Pests and Plant Protection Department, National Research Centre (NRC), El-Buhouth Street, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt 0000-0003-0978-1352 Faten M. Momen Pests and Plant Protection Department, National Research Centre (NRC), El-Buhouth Street,Dokki, Cairo, Egypt; E-mails: shimaa_fahiim@yahoo.com, fatmomen@gmail.com Journal Article The eriophyid mites, <em>Aceria kenyae</em> (Keifer), <em>A. mangiferae</em> Sayed, and<em> Calepitrimerus baileyi</em> Keifer are important phytophagous pests in Egypt. In this study, the effect of the above-mentioned eriophyids, as natural prey, on the biological and population growth parameters of the phytoseiid mite,<em> Typhlodromus athiasae</em> Porath & Swirski was evaluated. This phytoseiid can successfully develop and reproduce on <em>A. kenyae</em>,<em> A. mangiferae</em>, and<em> C. baileyi</em>. Individuals of <em>T. athiasae</em> fed on <em>A. mangiferae</em> displayed the shortest pre-adult development, while those fed on <em>A. kenyae</em> and<em> C. baileyi</em> took more time to reach the adult stage. Adult female longevity of <em>T. athiasae</em> was longer on <em>A. mangiferae</em> (36.79 days) than on <em>A. kenyae</em> (31.65 days) and <em>C. baileyi</em> (31.18 days). The total number of eggs per<em> T. athiasae</em> female was the highest on <em>A. mangiferae</em>, followed by<em> A. kenyae</em>, and <em>C. baileyi</em> (46.29, 37.62, and 34.39 eggs/female, respectively). Presently, feeding of<em> T. athiasae</em> on <em>A. mangiferae</em> resulted in the maximum intrinsic rate of increase (<em>r</em>), finite rate of increase (<em>λ</em>), and net reproductive rate (<em>R</em>₀) as compared to the other prey. In addition, preying on <em>A. mangiferae</em> showed the shortest mean generation time (<em>T</em>), while <em>A. kenyae</em> showed the longest one as prey of<em> T. athiasae</em>. In conclusion, the present results showed that the <em>T. athiasae</em> population could display a high capacity to increase when preying on the tested eriophyids (especially on <em>A. mangiferae</em>). So, this predator may be capable of providing effective management of these eriophyid mites. https://www.persianacarology.org/article_238546_5ae42138e29fabbf474b6441eaa4f282.pdf